Lead with Questions, Not Answers
The best leaders don’t need to have all of the answers. They ask the right questions.
There are three questions I always ask when meeting with teams:
- What surprised you to the upside, and what did you learn that drove the upside versus expectations?
- What surprised you to a downside, and what did you learn that caused the downside surprise?
- What barriers are getting in the way of what you are trying to achieve?
The first two have to do with savoring the surprises that can often lead to breakthroughs. The third helps me understand where I can help the team be more successful.
Recently I asked serial entrepreneur Eric Ries what he thought the most important question for a leader to ask in a Lean Startup company or project. He answers in the clip below and also shares his best piece of advice for leaders.
It’s not what you know. It’s the questions you ask that help you become a more effective and inspiring leader.
Program Officer at JHPIEGO
10yA leader is a facilitator of change, and does not need to have all the answers but what matters is the question to facilitate the change. It is this question which will eventually lead to what type of strategy to be used address some of the upcoming challenges.
Creator of BugHubTV, founder of Just Be Kind Movement and Tummies Minds Spirits Foundation, Author of Shelly Shines book series for children and holistic health coach.
11yThank you for sharing your wisdom and doing it in a fun way!
Executive Coach, Corporate Mentor, Associate Consultant at Medacrii Associate, Entrepreneur, Founder of Golden Ethics
11yYes agree. Experience is the most difficult and BEST teacher - Take the exam first, and lesson second. Make lots of mistakes and learn quickly. Is this how our teachers should be teaching? Sounds like FUN, will need lots of self esteem ... Taking everyone out of the comfort zone, does sound like FUN.
HR Manager | People Strategy | Compensation | Benefits | Performance Mgmt | Organization Design | Change Mgmt | Well-being
11yVery good! Lead by example! always!!!
Sales Consulting & Execution Service 👤 India Market Access 👤 Strategic Partnership 📈 SAAS 📈 IOT 📈 API 📈 Automation 📈 DATA 📈 ICF Member
11yIntriguing