Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others

In both professional and personal dealings, trusted and positive relationships are paramount, and according to consultant Sobel (Clients for Life) and executive Panas (Mega-Gifts), the way to build and deepen those relationships is to ask the right questions. Chapter by chapter, the authors present stories from corporate leaders, a minister, a billionaire, an attorney, a medical center CEO, and others for whom “power questions” became a turning point. Sobel and Panas suggest power questions for moving a sale forward; inspiring employees to better performance; building rapport; changing the direction of a losing trend; and establishing reciprocity. Each chapter ends with a plan of action for putting the questions into practice. There’s a heavily religious overtone to the book, and in fact many questions lead toward the spiritual. While thought provoking, this book is simply a treatise on the importance of relationships, and situations are rephrased as questions. Though the form may look useful, overall, the book doesn’t offer enough substance. (Feb.)