GREAT leaders ask GREAT questions.
Asking smart questions
is one of the most powerful tools in a leader's toolbox. The right question asked at the right time can
bring answers that help you understand better, think differently, and move your
organization forward.
Leaders who think they have all
the answers often become so absorbed in trying to be the smartest person in the
room that they avoid asking the questions that will actually make them
smarter.
Questions Make You Smart
Some leaders fear asking questions. They believe that if they ask, they will appear weak and uninformed. The direct opposite is true.
People go through a cognitive process as
they search for answers. Insights are more powerful when they reach conclusions independently.
Improving your questioning skills will make you a better manager, employee,
parent, teacher, student or community leader through empowering your team.
Leaders who ask questions also show respect for their teams. Questions contribute to building relationships because they often lead to further conversations, which play a key role in getting to know someone better.
Asking questions …
· Adds perspective because you receive information from a different view
· Empowers the person being asked to think for themselves
· Tells people you value what they say
· Provides a path to deeper conversations
