Good Leaders Ask Great Questions - Part 1, Why are Questions Important

Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

Being a leader is challenging; every moment of every day you are "on show". 

A previous leader of mine once stated, "there is nothing worse than comparisons and expectations". I never truly understood that, until I stopped to consider my leadership.

Every person you interact with is comparing you, and creating expectations of you; these include comparisons and expectations from articles, books, previous leaders, and/or media personifications of the world's greatest leaders.

Feel the pressure now?

That same leader, also used to say that "we cast a big shadow" as leaders and/or senior people in an organisation. Essentially, everything we do has an impact, and in actual fact everything we don't do!

Feeling the pressure now?

Then there is the fact that every single person you lead is different, unique. The style, approach and language you use for one person may be misunderstood by the next. 

Adding to that, you are human. You have good days, bad days and everything in between. You sometimes want to be left alone, and then other days as Cyndi Lauper said, "girls just want to have fun". You may even take a moment with 1 or 2 people in the group to relax and drop your guard. All of these actions are watched and judged for intent, for cliques, for the politics you are undertaking. 

Seriously, are you not feeling the pressue now?

For me this is what makes me passionate about what I do. All of this is an opportunity to learn, to grow, and improve as a person.

So in this strive for learning, I read John C. Maxwell's "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions". Given the depth of this topic I have broken my thinking into a number of parts.

Part 1, Why are Questions Important

John C. Maxwell's book, "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions", has given me food for thought on how focusing on asking great questions can, and will, make me a better leader.

If you want to be successful and reach your leadership potential, you need to embrace asking questions as a lifestyle. 

I have particularly tried to approach my current role with this mindset. 

Asking Questions is Hard

It is challenging and difficult to focus on asking questions because we are taught for so long to "speak up" and "tell" as that makes you look like a leader. 

In addition, many people in today's society infer in your questions an intent that you want them to change their view, you have an agenda (politics), or have a better idea. 

Very often when I ask questions I am intentionally clearing my mind and I am asking to be inquisitive. 

There are times however, that when I raise a question, in my mind somewhere there is a sense of "this can't be right" or "that doesn't make sense". Sometimes it is because I do not agree with the statement or conclusion. The question is therefore to explore the thinking and where appropriate challenge the thinking.

I personally still find it challenging to hold to a questioning mindset and approach. There are three key reasons why this is the case:

• Firstly because people don't actually like questions, they get defensive and look for the intent in the question. 
• Secondly, all the other voices in the room are statements. 
• And thirdly, I have grown up believing the smartest people in the room know the answers.

I am learning.

Questions are opportunities

John Maxwell reflects that through using questions we open doors to opportunities, possibilities and potential.

Questions Unlock and Open Doors That Otherwise Remain Closed. In life’s journey we face many doors. Hidden behind them are all kinds of possibilities leading to opportunities, experiences and people...

In developing this approach John considers the following points are why we need to ask questions:

• Questions Are the Most Effective Means of Connecting with People
• Questions Cultivate Humility
• Questions Help You to Engage Others in Conversation
• Questions Allow Us to Build Better Ideas
• Questions Give Us a Different Perspective
• Questions Challenge Mindsets and Get You Out of Ruts

Food for Thought

John highlights that to be a good leader become intentional in being a questioner. 

Never forget: good questions inform; great questions transform! 

You should even ask questions of yourself. 

Food for thought, to become a better leader it is not about me and what I say (or tell) but what I ask.

I really am still learning.