John G. Millker's QBQ The Question Behind The Question

Improved Essays
John G. Millker’s book, QBQ The Question Behind the Question, explains how a lack of personal accountability affects us in our daily personal and professional lives. Miller uses this book as a tool to teach individuals and organizations how to eliminate blame, complaining, and procrastination. This quick, but valuable resource urges readers to looks inside themselves instead of pointing a finger at others. QBQ The Question Behind the Question teaches readers how to change negative “why” or “who” questions into positive, action-based “I” questions.
Miller begins QBQ The Question Behind the Question, by asking “What ever happened to personal accountability?” (p.1) This initial question piqued my interest and had me wondering the same question.
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These questions serve no purpose but to shift the blame to others, thus diminishing personal accountability. Going through life asking IQs will leave us frustrated and hopeless. Thankfully, Miller says all we need to do is ask the QBQ.
Asking positive, solution-based questions is the best way to achieve personal accountability. By eliminating blame and instead asking better QBQs, Miller claims we will be transformed. The QBQ way is solely about looking beyond our initial questions and asking better ones! Miller claims, “the answers are in the questions” (p. 18). To me, this means that as soon as we start asking better, more positive questions, we will get better, more positive answers!
As I continued reading, I wondered what encompassed a “better” question and how would go about asking one. Luckily, Miller had the answers to that outlined in 3 simple statements: “1. Begin with “What” or “How” (not “Why,” “When,” or “Who”). 2. Contain an “I” (not “they,” “them,” “we,” or “you”). 3. Focus on attention” (p. 18). He promises that by doing these simple things, we can live a more satisfying and enjoyable
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Better questions equal better results. Better results come from practicing personal accountability and striving for a positive outcome. Personal accountability has all to do with attitude. How a person approaches a problem and what types of questions they ask will determine the outcome!
The “Circle of Blame,” as Miller calls it, can also occur in our professional lives as well. Our personal accountability, or lack thereof, directly affects our professional accountability. When each person within an organization practices professional accountability, positive outcomes result. For this to work, every person must be accountable for themselves. If even one person within an organization starts pointing the finger at everyone else, it disrupts the entire system.
This book has really changed my views on accountability. I wasn’t aware of the negativity in some questions I was asking and how it was affecting myself and others. It’s easy to ask ourselves, “When is the work going to get done?” or “Why doesn’t anybody listen to me?”, but these don’t produce solutions. These types of questions only mask the underlying problem and cause feelings of frustration and anger. Reading this book showed me a better way to look at potential problems and ask the “right”

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