Leadership – Questions > Answers

True value comes in the questions that are asked, not the answers that are given.  More insights can be gleaned by asking questions for deeper understanding.  Below are examples of how you can use questions to gain deeper insights.

1. In what situations do I leave my team feeling that I don’t understand them?
2. When I’m frustrated, have I asked the person enough questions to understand their perspective?
3. When have I felt misunderstood?
4. What questions could I have asked someone who thought I was in the wrong so that I could understand their perspective better?
5. When do I find myself trying to prove that I am “right?”
6. What questions could have been asked so that I didn’t feel like I needed to show proof of being right?
7. How do I want to be understood?
8. How do I want to make sure that I understand other people?

A best practice is to practice asking clarifying questions within your organization.  Everyone can benefit from this, so ask yourself how you would like to train your team to ask clarifying questions.

Change needs practice. And practice needs patience.