When asked a question, what do you do?
Do you straight away provide the answer, or do you encourage the person asking the question to find the answers themselves?
The former is giving fish; the latter is teaching how to fish.
Those who have gone through coaching or counselling trainings will know what I mean. I myself have gone through many hair-pulling sessions, and shall avoid talking about coaching! It’s so bloody difficult!
I am still fighting my demons… Every time I feel like “Limpeh kali gong” or “You should”; I’ve to bite my tongue. Now my ability to do French kiss is severely affected…
It’s perhaps the reason why there’s a hoo-hah not so long ago since most Singaporeans are brought up expecting to be spoon-fed solutions; but at the same time we complain nobody listens to our opinions? Hello?
Today, I shall take the easy way out and focus on the former – giving fish.
You level what?
Before giving the answers to the person asking the question, you may want to ask “what do you think?”
By the way, this “what do you think?” question is also a great coaching technique.
Ok, ok. I’ll stop talking about coaching. I promise!
From the answer the person replying this “what do you think?” question, you can “guess” the “level” of this person.
1) Newbie – A more diplomatic term for sucker, patsy, idiot, sotong, spider, etc.
2) Thinks he/she knows – Just read one book on investing for dummies and assume they know everything about investing, for eg…
3) Expert level or specialist – Don’t play play! This person knows the answer to the question he/she is asking you. Why they so like that? Either to embarrass you or draw attention to how smart they are lah!
See? If you don’t tailor your “limpeh kali gong” answer to the level of your enquirer, you may risk flying over his/her head, or offend the enquirer by talking down to him/her. Or worse, fall into the trap of the “expert” pretending to be “newbie”!
Remember: See ghost speak ghost; see people talk people!
How to avoid getting “what do you think?” questions
Be the first to ask that question!
But it also means you must do your homework and cannot be at “newbie” level. Must at least be “think I know” level.
“The advantage of bonds over dividend stocks is… However, dividend stock is….. What do you think?”
Don’t be too cocky hor! We snake-oil salesperson know many other techniques and tricks to deflect and parry. But I think you get the idea.
Newbie not human?
No lah!
You can ask dumb questions just as long it does not involve you reaching for your wallet in payment.
For questions involving money, it’s best to do your own homework first.
It’s like you going to Sim Lim and asking the salesperson this handphone or PC can buy or not?
You might as well be flashing on your forehead a big “newbie” word. And that can’t be good. When sharks smell blood…
Don’t believe?
If you’ve bought insurance from a relative or close friend when you were a financial newbie, and looking back now you are financially literate, what do you see?
Exactly! If a relative and close friend can do that to you, what more about stranger salespersons?
What do you think?
Singapore Man of Leisure (welcome to my blog; just google it!)
