I’m guessing that nearly half of those reading have been in a situation to ask some to a high school prom.  Until a few days ago, I thought everyone had to basically do the same thing.  Walk up to, or call, the intended and ask them, in one way or another “Would you like to go to the prom with me?”

This was my thinking until recently, when I heard about the custom near Knoxville, TN.  My nephew Chase West had the dilemma many of us have faced, but the tradition at his school is to find a creative way to ask the stressful question. 

His solution?  To drill holes in a piece of plywood to spell out “PROM?”, install white Christmas lights in the holes and place it in the young ladies front yard.

She said yes.

This post isn’t really about prom invitations, but Chase’s approach is creative, effective and instructive. 

This post is about asking a different question, beyond the initial, traditional and obvious one.  And it is about finding a new way to get to a needed destination. 

Consider these questions yourself, or in your next team or project meeting.

What approaches in your business have gone unchallenged?

What opportunities for improvement, growth are going unexplored?

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Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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