LEADERS ASK POWERFUL QUESTIONS

This past week, the executive director of a non-profit asked me if I had some sample questions for annual staff evaluations. That started me thinking about the importance and value of powerful questions, questions we ask others and questions we ask ourselves.

Leadership coaches have been trained to value the power of great questions. However, we do not have to be coaches in order to use questions in a coaching manner. Some of the best managers and leaders I know utilize questions on a consistent basis to generate meaningful conversations with the people they manage and lead.

When can these powerful questions be posed:

-During mid-year or annual reviews,
-During one-on-one meetings,
-During team meetings,
-During team retreats

Powerful questions can be a leader’s greatest ally when he or she is striving to help a teammate see a situation, a problem or a person from a different perspective, in a different light, or with a modified attitude.

We can tell when we have hit upon a powerful question if the person to whom we are speaking pauses and proceeds to think quietly. They can add credence to the power of our query when they say “That’s a great question” or “Wow. Let me think about that. “

Often we can actually see physical manifestations of the manner in which the powerful question has impacted them. They will raise their eyes up and to the left. They will look up to the ceiling seeking inspiration. They will sit up straighter in their chair. They will nod their heads. They will put their hands together and bring them up to their mouths. They will briefly close their eyes. These are all signals that the person is absorbing our question and pondering a response.

In my leadership coaching, frequently I will be engaging in a significant conversation with a client who is wondering how his or her team, or a particular individual, feels about a ticklish, tender or critical issue.

So often I will gently inquire, “Well, have you asked this question to the person?” or “Have you set aside time at a team meeting to raise this question with your team?”

You would be surprised at how many times my client will respond: “No. I haven’t taken the time to do so.” After I remind my client that she cannot take the time – she must make the time – I ask, what’s standing in the way of asking the question.

So often clients respond with “I don’t know.“ Then we can explore what obstacle might be standing in the way of asking that important question.

As you ponder the value of asking powerful questions of your teammates and review how frequently you yourself utilize this tool, I would like to ask you several questions that will help me as I continue writing this leadership newsletter in the year 2025.

-How can my weekly leadership newsletter provide greater value for you?

-What topics would you like to see me address moving forward?

-What leadership challenges have you been facing this year that you would like to see written about?

-What topics I’ve addressed have resonated with you so much that you’d like to see me address them again?

-Would you like to utilize your own leadership experience and write a guest post one week for my leadership newsletter?

Please make some time to answer these questions within an email back to me. I would greatly appreciate your feedback and your suggestions.

Finally, and a little selfishly, I ask if you or anyone you know might be interested in leadership coaching as we turn the page from the 2024 calendar to 2025.

Please feel free to continue to send me comments on these weekly postings, both those that you find helpful and those with which you may disagree. I too want to continue my own learning journey as we together engage in the wonderful process of lifelong learning..

If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!

-Larry