GAME
At Native American Public Telecommunications, new technologies make strategic planning increasingly important. I often end my days with many more questions than answers. I try to find balance in helping producers in traditional communities with limited access to technology tell their stories through a complex electronic delivery system in a highly competitive market. Telling stories from the Native perspective can be challenging when the gatekeepers have limited knowledge of our cultures and values.
Television production rarely happens in isolation. There s a complex relationship between funders, subject, production personnel, and advisors. Solid teamwork makes a difference. Learning the rules before starting the game almost always assures a better outcome. Knowing what questions to ask along the way can lead to creative solutions.
Some of the best things I learned in journalism school were how to research, ask questions, and listen. Small children ask a lot of questions. "Why? Why? Why?" We all know the best answer is rarely "Because I said so."
So when my days end with more questions than answers, I keep on asking - with the goal of finding solutions through strategic questioning. And then I listen.
When Americans asked, "Why did we attack Iraq?" the answer was "Because they hold weapons of mass destruction." Turns out the answer was much more complicated than that. In other words, asking the first "why" didn t lead to the real answer.
When white Americans ask, "Why are Indian reservations so poor?" the answer is not as simple as "Because there are no jobs." In fact the question "What do you mean by poor?" gets very different definitions. Poor as in no money, no land, no family, no food, or no culture? In some ways, Indians living on reservations are very rich.
Likewise, in strategic planning, understanding our mission, what we do to achieve our goals, and how we relate to our audiences leads us to increased understanding.
Unlike in ballgames or war games, where there are winners and losers, we can create win-win solutions by understanding the complexities of the questions and listening carefully to the answers.
"Why don t more people watch the great programs on public TV?" turns into "What is it about reality TV shows that attract American viewers?"
"How can I afford to buy the newest technology?" becomes "Where can I find the resources or create partnerships to use the newest technology?"
The "game" is about creating the strategies to win. It s knowing who to ask, when to ask, and how to ask in order to find the solutions. Typing "strategic questioning" into your favorite Internet search engine will bring you articles by consultants like Paul Lipke and Fran Peavey that can guide you in developing your own method of strategic questioning. So keep asking - and remember, "Because I said so" is never the real answer.
SHIRLEY DRIVING HAWK SNEVE is the assistant director at Native American Public Telecommunications in Lincoln, Nebraska.
