Leaders, Are We Asking the Right Questions?

Questions can uncover hidden information while building trust through transparency. Albert Einstein said, “asking questions should not be about getting answers but rather about solving problems.” Do you agree?

Questions serve many purposes; most importantly, they help fill information gaps.

I like open-ended questions that encourage long answers instead of quick yes or no, which help expand a conversation. They get a person talking, sharing more details that allow you to probe to discover, to take an interest and thereby guide someone to consider alternatives and become empowered to work through problems independently. It must be undertaken from a perspective of genuine interest rather than an interrogation to be effective and meaningful.

Questions, in general, encourage trust and deepen relationships and indicate to others that you are interested in them and what they have to say from a helpful, not challenging, perspective. It is rooted in a core need we all have: to feel heard, which allows others to be part of the process, which leads to open dialogue, engagement, and commitment in addressing issues.

Leaders, let’s continue to use questions with our team to challenge, clarify, guide and support. We must never forget that asking the right questions is about our intent. What are we looking to accomplish?

Let’s ask our people the right questions so they feel more engaged, empowered, and valued. This will ultimately lead to more meaningful relationships and more profound trust, increasing productivity for the road ahead.