【QBQ! The Question Behind the Question】

Sharing will explore the essence of the book and discuss how to apply these thoughts in work and life.

Partner Insights - Alvin Cian

I'm glad the company recommended the book QBQ for everyone joining the team. The two words "personal accountability" that run throughout the book are the strongest takeaway for me. There are many big and small things to digest and handle at work. Whether one can step up and take ownership of solving issues as if they were their own is something everyone should be aware of. Through discussions like this, we can also understand if everyone has different perspectives on the book. Each person's memorable stories are actually quite different!

Partner Insights - Diana Liu

After reading the QBQ book, two points impressed me:

1. Asking Better Questions

The book teaches us to ask questions like "what" or "how" instead of "who," "why," or "when," and to focus on action rather than blaming others. Because time is valuable to me, if we ask questions in the wrong way, we're already spending time on the wrong questions. It's better to spend time asking better questions to get better answers. And remember: the answer lies within the question.

2. I Can Only Change Myself and Start from Within!

After a month of work, my supervisor gave me the homework of getting to know a colleague from another department every day. With my introverted personality, I found this task a bit challenging. But thinking about needing help from other departments in the future, I decided to change myself and actively get to know others.

Partner Insights - Lulu Wang

A few sentences that gave me an "AHA" moment or resonated with me:

Often, customer service says that something isn't their department's responsibility and redirects us to other departments, feeling a bit like being passed around. The person seeking help may feel helpless because they keep getting directed to new departments, and having to explain the situation repeatedly doesn't leave a good impression on customers. Bringing this spirit to frontline service staff would greatly enhance the company's image.

By asking questions, better choices can be brought out. For example, asking "what solutions can I provide?" or "how can I obtain the information needed for decision-making?" By asking better questions, better decisions can be made on the spot. When the team encounters situations where they can't achieve or complete an item, I ask them about the risks and impacts of not doing it. By digging deeper through the team's responses, I can collect information for decision-making and find blind spots or misunderstandings.

Achieving desired results with existing resources. We always want more resources, but spending too much time thinking about what we have is another reason for procrastination. This issue is less common in this organization, but I believe it can occur in both work and life. If something aligns with 70-80% of what's needed, we can execute it without waiting for everything to be perfect.

Communication not only means being understood by others but also understanding others. Whether in a team or with company colleagues, continuous communication is needed wherever there are people.

A teammate is someone who, even after seeing through you, still thinks you're a good person. I think this sentence is a great interpretation of what a team is. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and the team complements each other's shortcomings, moving forward in the same direction. That's what a team is all about!

Even if actions lead to mistakes, they also bring learning and growth. The result of action is resolution; not taking action at best maintains the status quo, keeping us living in the past. Every action doesn't have to be grand; making a tiny change is also an action. So, don't think that "taking action" is difficult and requires big plans. It's just like how we have an action item every week during retrospectives.

Partner Insights - Tommy Vong

I think the book QBQ and what the company wants to tell us are similar, as mentioned in the last sharing session: it's about "personal accountability." When facing challenges, it's not about blaming others or the environment, but about focusing on internal issues and taking responsibility with a positive attitude.

This book teaches us to ask better questions instead of complaining about situations or others' behavior. By asking questions like "what can I do to solve this problem?" or "how can I handle this situation better?" I learned to focus on what I can control rather than futilely seeking faults. This shift in mindset makes me more proactive and improves problem-solving abilities. Additionally, the book emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility, which deeply resonated with me. I realized that being an excellent PO depends on having a responsible attitude and being willing to bear the consequences of my actions.

In conclusion, this book is not only inspiring but also a practical guide, teaching us how to change our mindset, cultivate the right attitude, and persist in taking responsibility when facing challenges. These values will be valuable assets in my personal and professional life, and I will strive to practice these principles, aiming for a more positive and effective life.

Partner Insights - Elvin Lai

The concept of "personal accountability" runs through the entire book QBQ, which is also the spirit the company has been promoting. Besides "personal accountability," there are several points in the book that impressed me.

Firstly, the idea of "putting oneself in others' shoes" mentioned in the book is very important. At work, we often get stuck in problems, but by putting ourselves in different perspectives, we can find more effective solutions.

Secondly, the point of "asking better questions" in the book also had a profound impact on me. Instead of complaining or blaming others when facing difficulties, I learned to proactively ask questions and seek solutions. This proactive attitude not only helps me solve problems more efficiently but also promotes harmony and collaboration within the team.

Furthermore, the perspective of "not trying to change others" mentioned in the book is very inspiring. Everyone has their own personality and work habits, and trying to change others often leads to unnecessary friction. Instead, we can try to find a common ground and cooperate better with each other.

Finally, the book reminds us to keep learning and growing. By identifying the root causes of problems