Good Questions (1)

Good questions are good for your organisation. They can be challenging, but good questions will help you to focus on the right issues.

In the April edition of the Achieving the TQS Newsletter I set out five good questions that it would be beneficial for you to ask in your organisation as your work towards your TQS certification.

I said in the newseltter that I would look at each question in more detail in this blog. Therefore, the next few posts deal with those questions in turn.

When you look at each question, before you think about the answer, think about the value of asking the question. Then think about the answer.

This first question is one to ask of the employer.

What briefing did you receive about the work we are doing with you?

It’s far better to talk to people who have been briefed than simply to look to check if there is a system in place to ensure that briefings to take place.

• Having a monitoring system is part of your management process.


• Implementing a monitoring system is part of your management process.


• Proving that the monitoring system works as specified is a valuable activity.


• Talking to your employers about this not only allows you to check the efficacy of your system, it helps you to build your relationship with each employer.

People in colleges and provider organisations often say they need more reasons to get in touch with employers in order to build rapport and to understand employers better. Here is one question that can start a conversation and help you to do just that.

You also need to speak to the employer about the briefing that he or she has received, because it’s the employer’s judgement that counts. You may think your communications system works well. You can’t be sure of that, until it is endorsed by your employers.

The meaning of all communication is found in the message received, not in the message sent, so your employers’ perceptions really matter.

Some providers introduce convoluted checking systems to work out in they’re doing what they set out to do. They often forget that asking a simple question can make life a lot simpler and can be just as good - or better - than those checks at providing the information you need.

The answer to this question gives confirmation that an important part of your process for working with employers works. Therefore, remember to ask it.