Sometimes it is the obvious statements that I hear that make me pause the most.
I heard this one this week “The answers you get depends on the questions you ask”. It is attributed to Thomas S. Kuhn. It’s obvious, right? But it gave me pause for thought, and made me curious about what influences the questions that we ask?
Forbes and many others report that ‘great leaders ask great questions’; so how often do we pause and consciously think about the questions that we ask, and why?
With that in mind, take time to think:
- Is there a pattern to the theme of your questions?
- Unexpected questions will help people to think in new ways.
- Do you routinely miss a theme? E.g. finance? people? stakeholders? future?
- Do you ask open or closed questions?
- Open questions elicit stories and help form connections.
- Do your questions emphasise the problem or inspire hope?
- Can you reframe to possibility seeking rather than just problem solving?
- Do your questions align with your, and your organisations values?
- Is there a say do gap? What should you double down on now?
As leaders, we can show our people that we are role modelling the changes that all of us want to see. Let’s be better and be the change – contact [email protected] if you would like help to do so.
For more articles, encouraging you to think and be the change – visit here.