If you think that leading means having all the answers, think again. Questions can be powerful leadership tools. They spark collaboration, incite curiosity, and imbue your team with a sense of responsibility.
Inspire Collaboration
A simple question is usually the first step to a fruitful collaboration. For example, if you ask a member of your team “What do you think we can do to be more productive?” chances are that you will get at least a couple of useful ideas and maybe even some perspectives you haven’t considered before.
When you ask a question you implicitly accept that you don’t have all the answers. And while this vulnerability may feel scary for some leaders, asking questions regularly helps you gain valuable information for improving your organization.
Foster Curiosity
Above all, questions are an expression of curiosity, and you want your team and your organization to be curious. A strictly regimented company may be efficient in some situations, but it’s usually too rigid to grow significantly. By contrast, a curious organization is constantly coming up with new ways to fulfill its mission. Research shows that curiosity is linked to a greater ability to innovate, more open communication, and better team performance.
Imbue Your Team With a Sense of Responsibility
In organizations where leaders are believed to have all the answers, members feel that their responsibility is limited to complying with the orders they are given. This changes when you incorporate questions as part of your leadership style. If members of your team know that they may have to give their opinion, they will approach their work in a more thoughtful manner, paying more attention to the challenges they face, and making it a point to devise solutions to overcome them.
More Tips and Resources
TThese are some previous posts you can check out for more ideas on how to lead with confidence:
- 3 trends every small business should consider in 2021
- How to be a better communicator this 2021
- 4 Ideas for entrepreneurs to take it easy as parents
- How to conduct successful webinars
- Adapt to new consumer trends with these ideas and tools
At the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, our mission is to keep you up to date with the most relevant developments in business management and administration so you and your company can take advantage of new opportunities. Contact us by email (info@pomonachamber.org) telephone (909-622-1256), social media, or click on this link to join and start enjoying the benefits of membership today.
