Feeling gutsy? Deploy this short survey throughout your entire company, organizational division, or team. But don’t do it unless you intend to take massive, immediate, radical (in-every-sense-of-the-word) action with the results. Why? Because the results are either going to be delightful or truly, terrifyingly uncomfortable...there is rarely a real “middle ground” here.
Who is Bob Parr? He’s the alter ego of Disney’s “Mr. Incredible.” In the 2004 movie, The Incredibles, we encounter Bob sitting in a cramped office, being forced to engage in “CYA Behavior” in order to do the right thing.
So, what is The Bob Parr Question?
Have you ever felt the need to cover your tracks in order to do the right thing in our company?
Don’t ask a question without being willing to accept and act upon the answer.
Pairs well with the answer, “Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.”
If you’ve got the guts to ask that question, you also need the fortitude to follow up on it. And you will need to build or present context around it: because if your culture needs work…people may not feel safe enough to answer honestly. Your employees must feel safe from retaliation, slander, side-eyes, and intimidation to answer honestly.
Again: this is a “no middle ground” type of question. It will probably require context and a thorough and thoughtful communication plan before you deploy the question itself. And without a doubt, you absolutely must act upon the feedback you receive. Quickly.