Ask but don’t tell…
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen”. Winston Churchill
Leadership can only be highly effective if all of the answers are not immediately provided. In our ever changing world, leaders can’t know all of the answers. Leaders will not serve their business well if all of the answers are coming from them or a single team.
An individual who is striving to be a great leader will always begin the decision-making process by determining whose decision is this to make. Once this has been determined, questions then can be developed to find the best answers. If we only rely upon ourselves, even when the decision is ours, then we are arriving at an answer that may be altered by our own set of experiences or assumptions. Be proactive in coaching your team to make independent decisions, as the situation requires, and don’t do their work for them.
A leader is charged with the responsibility to develop strong teams with the ability to understand the need for independent thinking, engagement and accountability. This can be achieved by coaching your team to understand that you believe in them as well as their own abilities. The team needs to be fully engaged in the company’s overall mission and vision.
An effective leader will know to challenge their own answers, results or resolutions. Seeking new information will present the opportunity to base a decision on a wider breadth of information. Asking more open-ended questions, rather than leading questions, will result in a more interactive opportunity. The situation itself will assist you in determining the types of questions you will need to ask.
Remember, being a leader is not about demonstrating your own level of expertise or knowledge. Being an effective leader is about building a shared vision, facilitating trust and demonstrating a true desire to listen to your team.
