Ask Someone

Yesterday I enjoyed one of my favourite activities - being a Living Book.  The Calgary Public Library, among others, sponsors Living Library events in which people "check out" other people for fifteen minutes to ask them questions or hear their stories.  Yesterday's event was at Bow Valley College, mainly involving ESL students.  My "book" is about mentoring, and since few people want to know about mentoring, what ensues is a brief mentoring session.

ESL students are usually well-educated and experienced people who have made that courageous leap to live and work in a new culture and new language.  As someone who has failed to learn any other language really well, my admiration for the students is endless.  Of course, I don't have answers to all their questions about work, education or volunteering situations in Calgary.  What I can do is help them become confident in asking for information from the right sources.

Today, I am thinking that if they can find the gumption to ask for information in a foreign language, we who are comfortable in our employment should also work up the nerve to ask questions more often.

"Informational Interview" is the term: asking for thirty minutes of someone's time to elicit information about a topic we need to understand better.  This is not about idle curiosity or pursuing a hidden agenda.  These are the steps I recommend.

1. Clearly identify the topic on which you need more knowledge.
2. Write down three to five open-ended questions that directly relate to the topic and your need for information.
3. Request a thirty-minute meeting, usually by phone to ensure that your source understands and accepts your request.
4. Express your appreciation at the beginning and end of the meeting without being too effusive.
5. Ask your questions, listening carefully to enable you to ask quick follow-up questions.
6. Take notes during the meeting.
7. Arrive and leave on time.
8. Follow up with a short email, briefly stating what you learned and how it will help you.

After the first interview, capitalize on your effort and ask for other interviews from other people until you have gained enough information relevant to your topic.