I think the question is wrongly worded. It should be “How can I give the best possible answer to an ASK SC question that I can?” Afterall, I can’t guarantee that everyone (or any one at all for that matter) will think my answer “helpful” or even read it. So, this is what I do: -
1. I think carefully about the question. Consider my experience in this area. Then write the best answer that I can, as clear as I can. And I try to give a complete answer.
2. I do my research. I check the facts (for instance, what does SFI actually say about this topic, and what is the web site reference where this information may be found). So I try to ensure that what I write is correct.
3. I don’t rush my answer. I always find that I spend much longer to prepare an answer than I thought it would take when I first started. Sometimes I come back to the answer at a later time and finish it. That is quite a good idea because, when I look at it afresh, I often pick up things I missed in my first draft.
4. And I think that we should be clear about why we are writing an answer to an ASK SC question in the first place. For me, it’s not about “showing off my knowledge” or winning a “top author” award, or winning some VP. I genuinely want to help my fellow affiliates. And I use it as a means of developing my understanding of SFI. (I have taught myself a lot by preparing an ASK SC answer. I clarifies my thinking and I have gained confidence in being able to talk to someone about SFI.) I treat the preparing of an answer as a TRAINING task. Hence I am building up a series of “information sheets” that I can use to help my own team. In fact I include an answer I write in my weekly TeamMails and also post it on my Leadership Page.
5. Having said the above, it will help your chance of gaining more “helpful” votes if you submit your answer as soon as possible after the ASK SC Question is first posted.
The other side of this coin is, how do I judge the 10 ASK SC answers that I read each day? The criteria is, “Did I find it helpful?” Yes or No? I am quite generous in what I find helpful. I choose “Yes” for the first answer I read on any question – just because it is the first answer and I think that affiliate’s quick response should be rewarded. I actually copy and paste the ASK SC answers that I like into a word document and save them to my SFI folder on my computer – for future reference. I do this because often I am in a hurry to read the 10 ASK SC questions each day. But by saving them I can go back to them at my leisure (afterall, they are written to help me in my SFI business). I have even included a good answer in my TeamMails. And I will give a “yes” tick for an answer, even if I don’t agree with what they have said, if I find it was well prepared and written. Afterall, we all have different views.
Conversely, once I have submitted my own answer I tend to judge the other answers a bit more harshly. They will get a “no” if the answer is too short, or not written very well, or if it is difficult to read, or if it contains incorrect information (and I check what they have written before I decide that is incorrect), or if they have just copied something from SFI, or if I think what they have written is just wasting my time. And I do want to see correct grammar and spelling too.
How have I gone with my ASK SC answers? This is the 10th ASK SC answer that I have submitted (two I prepared so late I never got to submit them). I’ve been very pleased with the ratings other affiliates have given me – thank you so much for that. I’ve been in the top 20 top author list three times and often my votes are less than 200 less than the top author for that question. I guess my efforts are appreciated. And I would recommend that an affiliate does try to prepare and submit an answer to an ASK SC question – I think you will learn a lot from the experience.
less
I think the question is wrongly worded. It should be “How can I give the best possible answer to an ASK SC question that I can?” Afterall, I can’t guarantee that everyone (or any one at all for that matter) will think my answer “helpful” or even read it. So, this is what I do: -
1. I think carefully about the question. Consider my experience in this area. Then write the best answer that I can, as clear as I can. And I try to give a complete answer.
2. I do my research.
...
more
