In the realm of leadership, the ability to ask the right questions can be the difference between mediocrity and excellence. This timeless wisdom is embedded in stories and teachings across cultures.
Consider Alice's adventure in Wonderland. When she asked the Cheshire Cat which path to take, he wisely responded with a question: "Where do you want to go?" This simple yet profound exchange highlights the importance of clarity in our inquiries.
The Katha Upanishad, a treasure trove of ancient wisdom, features a dialogue between Yama, the god of death, and the young seeker, Nachiketa. Initially reluctant, Yama becomes an eager teacher as Nachiketa's genuine curiosity unfolds. This powerful narrative underscores how the right questions can unlock even the most guarded secrets.
When Narendra asked a direct question to Sri Ramakrishna- Have you seen God?, he paved the way for his own journey to become Swami Vivekananda.
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, was known for his relentless questioning, always pushing his team to think differently and challenge the status quo. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, frequently uses first principles thinking, a method that involves questioning assumptions until you're left with fundamental truths.
Dale Carnegie, a pioneer in personal development, famously said, "An effective leader will ask questions instead of giving direct orders." This principle is echoed by Jim Collins in his foreword to "The Effective Executive," where he recalls Peter Drucker's sage advice: "You seem to spend a lot of energy on the question of how to be successful. But that's the wrong question. The question is: How to be useful."
Some of key questions every leader can regularly ask:
What am I not seeing? - Challenge your assumptions and uncover blind spots.
How can I support my team better? - Enhance your team's performance by understanding their needs.
What is the long-term impact of this decision? - Consider the broader, systemic implications of your actions.
Who can I learn from today? - Seek out mentors and lessons from those around you.
What is our ultimate goal? - Ensure alignment and clarity in your vision and objectives.
By incorporating these questions into practice, a leader can navigate complexities with greater confidence and clarity.
A bigger question is - how can a leader develop capability to ask relevant questions.
A lot of emphasis is given to knowing and many leaders use this as a crutch when they say, if I don't know how can i ask. Questions born out of existing knowledge, impart knowledge or validate our knowledge.
When born out of curiosity, questions provide grounds for expansion in thinking. A few practices that can help develop better questioning are
Deep listening - Listening not only for the words and facts, but also for emotions and to what is evolving
Comfort with not knowing - Leaders may not know everything. Being comfortable with this awareness and leveraging it to learn can prompt useful questions.
Curiosity - Curiosity by itself is a powerful quality to have. However, curiosity with an aim to clarify things for the speaker is a potent ability as it combines genuine curiosity with empathy.
For leaders and top executives, mastering the art of questioning is not just a skill—it's a necessity. It fosters innovation, drives engagement, and leads to more insightful decision-making.
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