Better Leaders Ask Better Questions
Every time you solve a problem for your employees, you may be creating the next problem they bring back to you.
When someone asks for help, many leaders immediately provide the answer. It feels efficient. It feels helpful. This is especially the case with many new leaders.
But if we always supply the solution, we may unintentionally create dependency instead of developing confident decision makers.
Strong leaders know when to give direction. They also recognize when a thoughtful question can build critical thinking, accountability, and ownership.
In The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier offers seven practical questions that have the potential to transform our weekly one-on-ones, your team meetings, your sales meetings, and those non-meeting moments when you just bump into someone between scheduled meetings.
· The kickstart question: What’s on your mind?
· The AWE question: And what else?
· The focus question: What’s the real challenge here for you?
· The foundation question: What do you want?
· The lazy question: How can I help?
· The strategic question: If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?
· The learning question: What was most useful for you?
Imagine applying this approach to safety.
Instead of asking: “Who failed to follow the procedure?”
Try asking: “What made following the procedure difficult in this situation?”
Before a high-risk task, ask:
“What could change once the work begins?”
“Which safeguard is most critical and must be in place for the task to occur?”
“What would cause you to stop the work?”
Coaching does not mean avoiding accountability, withholding direction, or compromising safety expectations.
It means creating space for people to think, learn, and take greater ownership.
Better questions can lead to better decisions. Better decisions can create stronger teams and safer workplaces.
The next time someone brings you a problem, and if appropriate, resist the urge to immediately provide the answer.
Pause. Ask. Listen. Coach.
Begin Building Your Coaching Habit
Think about the last time someone brought you a problem.
Did you immediately provide the answer, or did you create an opportunity for that person to think?
The next time an employee asks for help where a direct response is not needed, pause before responding. Ask one thoughtful question. Listen carefully to the answer. Then ask, “And what else?”
That small change can begin transforming how you lead.
Developing a coaching habit takes intentional practice, self-awareness, and a willingness to replace some of your answers with better questions. The result can be stronger communication, greater ownership, improved decision-making, and teams that are better prepared to meet complex challenges.
If you are ready to grow as a leader and create a stronger coaching culture within your organization, reach out to Pursuit Peak LLC to schedule a free discovery call. Together, we can explore practical ways to help you and your team communicate with greater clarity, lead with greater confidence, and develop people who are prepared to perform at their best.
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