Mind Food | Leaders Ask

Last week I was hosting a workshop with a client of mine and during the session a thought occured to me. As a facilitator the hardest thing to do when in front of a group is to say nothing.

You see, the conversation and banter from the group was rich… and I had the urge to contribute. As a manager or leader of teams there are many times when it is easier to tell the team what they need to do, instead of asking them what would work best.

It feels great to manage people when there is plenty of work to do…. be a ‘rapid fire’ decision maker, tick the boxes and get a few runs on the board. It feels like we are contributing to the business goals - at least in the short term. 

Over a period of time, making all the leadership decisions becomes exhausting. It leads to comments like ‘they just aren’t stepping up….it’s like they can’t think for themselves and I have to monitor them all the time’ and ‘my manager is a control freak – they make all the decisions and micromanage me – I think it’s time to leave’.

As a leader, the key to empowering your team is to ask questions. 

Allow them to problem solve, seek answers, make mistakes and develop. Asking questions allows your people to grow through self-reflection and build their capability - which in turn supports you. It’s like giving someone a map when they ask for directions, as opposed to physically driving them there yourself.

In her book ‘Leaders Who Ask’ leadership expert (and a friend of mine) Corrinne Armour gives simple yet practical techniques to develop your team and provides a load of great insights gained throughout her career.  Corrinne states:

Does it take more time and patience? - Yes

Does it leverage your skill and build your team – Yes.

But…. watching your people thrive is incredibly rewarding.

What questions can you ask your team today to help them develop? Let me know…..

Stay Hungry

- Glenn