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As a business leader, there is a need for thoughtful decision-making. Leaders must avoid surface-level thinking and foster a culture of deep understanding and critical examination. Easy to say, very hard to develop the discipline. One transformative question that can alter how professionals in this space approach problems is: “And then what?” This method, inspired by Shane Parrish’s work, advocates for pushing beyond initial conclusions and diving deeper into the ramifications of our decisions.
At face value, multifamily leadership might see a solution as the endpoint. You identify a challenge, put a pure definition to the problem, brainstorm, find a solution, and implement it. However, by stopping at the first solution, leaders might miss out on unforeseen consequences or even better alternatives. That’s where the “And then what?” strategy comes into play.
When you pose the question, “And then what?” after arriving at a potential solution, you compel yourself and your team to forecast beyond the immediate; for multifamily leaders, this can mean the difference between a successful strategy and one with unintended negative impacts. For example, if considering a new technology solution to streamline operations, it’s tempting to adopt it based on initial benefits. However, asking “And then what?” might reveal potential integration issues with existing systems or perhaps a need for significant team training, impacting productivity in the short term.
This questioning strategy also promotes human-centric leadership, which I consider key in multifamily. By continually asking, “And then what?” leaders are pushed to consider the human consequences of their decisions. Will the new strategy alienate certain team members? Could it unintentionally create more work or stress for particular roles?
Furthermore, embracing the “And then what?” approach fosters an environment of continuous learning and innovation. It challenges conventional wisdom, compelling teams to explore contrarian ideas or new technologies that might offer more effective or efficient solutions.
The beauty of this approach is its simplicity. It doesn’t require extensive training or the adoption of new technologies. It’s a mindset, a commitment to thorough examination and forward-thinking. It’s an invaluable tool for multifamily leaders to tease out human potential.