The Question Behind The Question®
Helping Organizations Make
Personal Accountability a Core Value
QBQ! for Schools
A note from John G. Miller, CEO of QBQ, Inc., and author of
QBQ! The Question Behind the Question® and Flipping the Switch
"Personal Accountability and the QBQ! for Schools"
When I created QBQ! The Question Behind the Question while selling leadership training to the corporate world, personal accountability was not a hot topic. It is now—especially in public education everywhere. Simply put, how can we serve the children if we—as staff—have a problem with finger-pointing, blame, victim thinking, and procrastination? Since we at QBQ, Inc. believe that "modeling is the most powerful of all teachers", it’s incumbent upon us to practice personal accountability, responsibility, and ownership in all things. I believe personal accountability is the perfect message for school staffs and leadership. The NCLB Act combined with great change impacting our schools creates a tremendous need for this material. It truly is the right content at the right time. And since Karen (my wife since 1980) and I have seven children ages 26 down to 10, I just might have some pretty good insight from the "customer" viewpoint! I have taught QBQ! to all levels of many districts and would certainly be honored to be of service to you. Please enjoy the keynote presentation on audio to your right on this page. It was delivered to 1,000 people at a Chandler, AZ district all-staff event! Let me know how I can help!
A note from Kristin Lindeen—The QBQ! Daughter
"QBQ! for the Next Generation"
As a Miller kid, I remember being told, "You and your friends—you’re the next generation! Someday, you’ll be in charge!" I didn’t really understand what that meant, but I thought it sounded pretty cool. I am a bossy oldest of seven, you know.
Well, now I have merged into the "adult world" and I’m looking back at the "Next Generation" coming up behind me. And I’m realizing something—they need tools. When I present “"Personal Accountability and the QBQ!" to adults, I often hear them comment on how life changing the content is. Inevitably, someone says, "Boy, I sure wish my children could learn this." To which I say, "They can!"
If adults find the QBQ! concept to be meaningful, then wouldn’t it be great to equip our younger generation with these tools now so they can grow up practicing personal accountability? When I teach QBQ! to youth, I find that teenagers soak up the material. A few students will stick around to chat about their lives. I’m often amazed at "the stuff" teens are dealing with. And what’s exciting is they do see how eliminating blame, complaining, victim thinking and procrastination would make a huge difference in their lives.
At 26, I have a unique understanding of the challenges this upcoming generation faces. We have a deep sense of entitlement because many of us are accustomed to having just about everything we want. Even the least wealthy among us are wealthier than the rest of the world. QBQ! principles help put that sense of entitlement in its place. It’s good to learn young that we don’t deserve, but we earn. Also, learning to live a "No Excuses!" life is so powerful!
Since "Personal Accountability and the QBQ!" is not just for adults, let’s present "QBQ! for the Next Generation" to your youth audience! Personal accountability: it’s simply the right message at the right time. Let’s not keep it to ourselves.