Quotes
"In Ask, Jeff Wetzler goes deep on the first step in the Radical Candor order of operations: solicit candor. The book provides an invaluable, highly actionable method for drawing out the real thoughts, feelings, and experiences of those around you. If you want to build relationships and organizations rooted in honesty and openness -- improving learning, innovation, and results in the process -- this book is required reading. Ask gets to the heart of what it takes to invite the full humanity of those around you."—Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor and Radical Respect.
“I am delighted to provide a few opening thoughts for this remarkable new book about the challenge of learning what we most need to know from the people around us….In this readable, compassionate, intelligent and useful book, Jeff Wetzler teaches us how to do just that… And learning how to ask others what they truly think, know, and feel has never been more important.” [Excerpted from Foreword]—Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School Professor & author of The Fearless Organization & Right Kind of Wrong
"Jeff has worked alongside some of the foremost experts on group dynamics, including Chris Argyris, David Kantor, and Diana Smith. He has not only applied the insights he gained from these thought leaders in his own leadership across multiple organizations but also integrated them to develop his own distinctive point of view. This book does a masterful job of bridging theory and practice, offering invaluable guidance to any leader who seeks to build a culture of curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning. "—Sameer B Srivastava, Professor of Business Administration and Public Policy Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
"Asking and listening are at the heart of what it means to be a human being in relationship with others. In Ask, Jeff Wetzler presents a practical framework for uncovering the wisdom inside in the hearts and minds of those around you. The tools in this book offer an antidote to our age of disconnection, taking seriously the potential for creativity, collaboration, and courage within us and between us. Here's a book that points the way to a larger life"—Parker J. Palmer, Author of Let Your Life Speak, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and On the Brink of Everything
"In Ask, Jeff Wetzler demystifies the art and science of asking the right questions to move beyond perfunctory responses. The tools offered in this book, which Jeff models better than anyone I know, provide a practical roadmap to a more productive, collaborative and effective approach to both personal and professional interactions.”—Irene Rosenfeld, Former Chair and CEO of Kraft Foods and Mondelez International
“The greatest resource for anyone passionate about making a big impact is the wisdom of the people around us – from those closest to the issues being addressed to our team members, partners, and investors. Ask is an inviting and easy guide for unlocking this wisdom and elevating the voices we most need to hear. This book is essential reading for anyone looking to make positive change in the world.”—Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America & CEO of Teach For All
“Ask offers both a practical how-to guide and a compelling why-to narrative on the art of inquiry as a tool for team building and collaborative learning. Using stories, studies, data, and heaps of humility, Wetzler makes the case that curiosity is both the bridge to understanding our time's complex problems and the missing skill we need to connect to one another across the divisions and distrust that too often stand in the way of true learning and partnership.” —Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
"Effective 21st century leadership is all about collaboration and connection. In Ask, Jeff Wetzler offers a concrete, actionable framework for making the critical shift from “me” to “we” that our time demands. This is a call to action for all of us – from corporate CEOs to social entrepreneurs to world leaders – to tap into our true collective potential."—Jeffrey C. Walker,, former Vice Chair of JPMorgan Chase & Co.,& co-author of The Generosity Network
“As a journalist, I know that few tools are more powerful than good questions. This authentic, deeply-researched, and wildly entertaining book doesn’t just make the case for why asking matters, but how to do it well. At a time when we can't seem to agree on the color of the sky, the skills of asking and listening deeply are more critical than ever. The world is in dire need of this book right now.” —Jenny Anderson, Author, former New York Times journalist, and contributing columnist at TIME
"Curiosity leads to conversations, and conversations unlock the understanding we need to find and reach our mutual goals. We can all learn to do this better, and Jeff's book is a great place to begin."—Author, This is Marketing, Seth Godin
