This past weekend I listened to the latest podcast by Adam Grant where he spoke with Bob Sutton on his new book, The Friction Project.
No surprises, it was awesome. A lot stood out to me, but one key nugget was the sign of a great leader are about the questions they pose and not their statements. I used to think that of just the chairman of a board of directors, but no its for everyone.
(NOTE: Every human in the world is a leader. The definition of a leader is one who inspires others to follow. It has nothing to do with your role title.)
We often think great leadership means having all the answers. The opposite is true. The best leaders are ones that ask the questions - not the answers they offer.
Telling stifles creativity. Asking unleashes it. When leaders are curious and ask open-ended questions, they encourage fresh thinking and new ideas. People feel safe to brainstorm solutions versus just following orders.
So spend less time advocating for your existing views. And spend more time asking "How might we...?" or "What if we tried...?" Encourage thinking through inquiry.
Asking questions builds buy-in. When leaders dig into team members' perspectives through inquiry, everyone feels heard. This builds alignment around organizational goals and strategies.
Ask your people "What do you think about this approach?" "What else could there be" "Why wouldn't this work?"
Telling people what to do keeps them dependent on you. Asking people probing questions causes them to stretch and grow. When leaders inquire, they mentor.
Ask team members about current challenges and how they are tackling them. Dig into their thinking on decisions. This builds critical thinking skills.
So shift your ratio of questions to statements. Turn brainstorming sessions into questionstorming. Uncover ideas and talent through inquiry. Empower people through curiosity.
The days of directive, answer-driven leadership are waning. The future belongs to the curious leaders - those who extract excellence from people through the power of great questions.
How to Implement a Question-First Leadership Style
Embrace Curiosity: Encourage yourself and your team to embrace a growth mindset. See every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Practice Active Listening: Asking questions is only effective if leaders are genuinely interested in the answers. Active listening demonstrates respect and openness to new ideas.
Encourage Questionstorming Sessions: Allocate time for sessions dedicated to generating questions around challenges or projects. This will encourage a deeper understanding and exploration of potential solutions.
What questions will you ask today?