Do they want to discuss the issue or be distracted from it?
This is a good question to ask if a friend or co-worker mentions a problem and you're not sure how you can help. They might want to vent about the problem, without looking for a solution, or they may want your help finding a solution, or they may just want to be distracted!
Asked by:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/h9fucs/lpt_when_a_friend_is_upset_ask_them_one_simple/
(Image from The CBC reporting on Emily Carr :: seemsArtless )
Other important questions to consider
How will I make a difference for my team or organization?
How can you attract and maintain attention without appearing desperate?
There are many cases when it is to your benefit to attract and maintain attention - for good reasons. The dangerous flip side, however, is coming across desperate for attention. *Law 6: Court Attention at All Costs* from the book...
How does the journey change us?
Paulo Coelho asks in his novel The Alchemist: How does the journey change us? The whole book is a journey in search of treasure, but as the story progresses it becomes clear that no amount of gold is truly worth the lessons...
Are you confusing correlation with causation?
Causality or correlation? Over the generations we have been rewarded for quick, simple pattern matching - something drops out of a tree, assume it is a snake and run. If you are wrong and it was a vine or branch, no harm done....

