Average vs. Fast Track Career Questions to Ask

What separates the average from the few who fast track their careers?

They ask different questions.

The average person asks:

• How can I get ahead?

• What’s my biggest problem or frustration? How to solve it?

• What’s the result I want the most? How do I get it?

• How can I make more money, or save money, time or effort?

The few on the fast track ask:

+ Who is ahead of me that I can help?

+ What’s their biggest problem or frustration?

+ How can I solve their biggest problem or frustration?

+ What result do they want the most?

+ How can I help them get that result the fastest?

+ What have you tried to solve your problem or get your result that didn’t work? (so you know to not do those)

+How can I help them save money, time or effort?

+ How can I make them more money?

Here’s the breakdown of how I use this method (that you can follow today):

1. Start with the people that are 1 level above you like your boss. Then, to other departments at your boss’ same level.

2. Request a 10-15 minute meeting with them.

3. Say the purpose of the meeting is “I want to know more about what you do and how to add value to you”.

4. If you can meet in person, that’s best so that you can build the relationship faster.

5. Ask as many of these questions that you can to them.

6. Ensure to clarify what type of financial info they like, and how they like to see the info (assuming they’re privy to such info).

7. Once you figure out the answer, execute it so that you can help them fast track their results.

8. Rinse and repeat each quarter to follow up and see if what you gave them was helpful. If it wasn’t, ask what didn’t they like and what would they like instead?

This will build your relationship with the people above you, and help you work on what really matters. 

Then they’ll talk and potentially talk to their bosses about you too.

If you get promoted, do it all over again with the next level up.

I did this when I was a controller with my VP of Finance and the Directors/VP’s of other departments. 

Then I did it with the board of directors/business owners when I became Director of Finance. 

Bonus is it’ll also help you and your team save lots of time and effort.

You’ll find some things that you’re doing right now because it was requested some time ago, but is no longer required. You wouldn’t know unless you asked. 

When I did this upon joining the company, we found out that 10%-20% of my team’s deliverables were not used at all anymore. This:

+Reduced work for myself and team

+Motivated my team more since now they’re working on what actually matters

+They feel appreciated since the decision makers will thank them for the info. 

So try it. 

Even if you just ask 2 or 3 of the questions, you’ll really understand what’s going on in other departments and the people above you.

You’ll be viewed as the go to finance expert to get results.