No Tactics

I call Inquiry Method a no-tactics approach. Often times, when we approach a situation we are looking to get a result, and we “scheme” how to get it. Even with the best intent, because we are attached to a specific outcome, we look to spin and have influence on the outcome.

There are people that are very good at this and they often get great immediate results: sales, agreement, influence, change in processes, etc.

In my experience, these tactical results are short-lived and people tend to return to where they were.

One example is in enrolling seminars like the Mountain Experience. In the past, I have had people that could “sell” or enroll the experience with tactics. More often than not the people who were enrolled this way would drop out at the last minute for some reason or another. They were “sold” on the idea rather than really wanting it, two very different things. On the other hand, those who choose to come by way of being supported with inquiry to discover their own internal awareness are inevitably solid in their choosing.

The same is true in all sorts of things. As a leader, I used to “sell” people on taking on a project or a different job. It is amazing how rarely that worked. The people who were “sold” did not invest in the new story and tended not to follow through.

We can use tactics to sell to our families, friends, and relationships. We can use the tactics of power, manipulation, convincing, bribing, control, inveigling, cajoling, sarcasm, implying, withdrawal…etc., to get a result. These results are rarely durable, lasting, or solid.

I prefer Inquiry Method, asking questions, being curious about what is true for the other person, what they want and what they are capable of. This is No-Tactics persuasion, meaning there is no persuasion; the energy and motivation come from the other person.

In Inquiry Method, we are interested in the truth. The truth about what someone wants, what they want to do, what they are capable of; their intent is what is potent. When intent comes from inside it is strong and durable, reliable.

Next time you are tempted to persuade, set aside your tactics and get curious. Notice the results. Compare it with times you have used persuasion. Does it feel different?

In the business environment, Inquiry Management and Leadership uses the same perspective, it does not seek compliance it seeks truth; the foundation of truth is where we all want to stand because it is so solid.