Ultimate Community Service is the Global Impact of Asking a Question

When you ask a question in a public forum, it touches the lives of many people.  It has an exponential double impact.  There's a really good 100% chance at least 1 person in the audience has the same question, which you have the courage to ask. Now you're a champion for that person.

When the answer is delivered, that single person is now in a knowledgeable position to guide others who may ask a similar question in the future. So a question can make you a community catalyst to potentially start a chain reaction globally. You probably will never meet the people helped by that anonymous person you helped, because of your question.  So what. This is what being a selfless community activist is about.

Let's review the powerful benefits of asking a question . . . 

• It enhances personal development to overcome shyness
• It makes you a thought leader within your circle
• It positions you to help others clarify misconceptions
• It engages decision makers to consider you as the best candidate for a job or being THE vendor of choice
• It's the ultimate marketing and branding tool to stand out from the competition
• It attracts people to you
• Many friendships and positive associations can begin
• It can make the decisive difference for extending job offers and closing business deals
• It enhances family relationships as a closeness building communication tool
• It positions you as the go to person in being a problem solver

Best situations to ask a question is anytime . . .

• PTA meetings
• Parent / teacher meetings
• Town hall meetings
• In a classroom
• LinkedIn, Indeed, Twitter, Blogs, Monster, Facebook, Career Builder, NY Times, Wall Street Journal or other news / social media forums
• Replying to the sender of a newsletter
• Staff meetings
• Interviews
• Sales calls
• Networking events
• Business meetings
• Association meetings
• Team conference calls
• Family meetings
• When a child requires corrective guidance
• Ferreting through your network to access the hidden job market for identifying opportunities
• Prior to developing or executing strategic plans for company expansion
• Prior to making life changing personal or business decisions
• Personal 1 on 1 interactions
• . . . . and any other social interactions where you are involved within the human race
  
  Ask a question, even when you know the answer, for all of the above reasons. It's the ultimate community service.