From Aprons to Boardrooms: The Power of Questions in Leadership

When I think of the 1950s, based on tales and images passed down, a few iconic symbols come to mind: the delightful aroma of apple pies, the unmistakable sight of a Cadillac's tail fins, and the timeless tunes of Elvis Presley. But beyond the surface glamour, there's a deeper layer that speaks volumes to me as a woman in leadership. The '50s weren’t just about rock 'n' roll and drive-in movies. That era showcased an idealized domestic role for women, contrasted against corporate boardrooms. It's fascinating (and a tad unsettling) to realize that corporate leadership back then was modelled much like a "How to be the Perfect Housewife" guide.

Transitioning to the present, you'll find women leading boardroom discussions with the same flair they'd use to whip up a soufflé. As I—like so many women leaders today—have come to understand, leadership isn't about fitting a mold. Nor is it about always having the answers. No, it’s about having the courage to ask the right questions.

In post-WWII corporate America, leadership was simple – or at least, it was presented as such. Your worthiness for a leadership role was measured not by your ability to innovate, but by the grayness of your hair and the wrinkles on your forehead. It was a classic model: seniority of position and years (often decades) on men...ahem, I mean “men”. Many corporate ladders were practically escalators, where the trajectory was clear: the longer you stayed, the higher you rose. And oh boy, wasn’t that convenient? The only major requirement? Just be there... and perhaps, don’t stir the pot too much.

But, let’s ask a bold question: What if leadership wasn’t meant to be so, well, black and white? What if it wasn't about having all the answers wrapped up in a neat little bow, like those aprons from the '50s?

Remember that notion of a wife of yesteryear consulting her husband for every little decision? Shift your gaze to today's boardrooms, and you'll find women not just asking questions, but the right ones, driving innovation, and setting new standards.

Historically, the gentleman’s club of leadership had its rules. But when women began adding their heels to the echo of corporate hallways, leadership took a fun twist. Enter curiosity, adaptability, and collaboration—once deemed 'feminine' traits, now essential cornerstones of leadership. McKinsey & Company even dished out that firms rich in female decision-makers are 21% more likely to surpass their counterparts in profitability. And, it's not just about the bottom line. It's about fostering environments where asking, "What if?" isn't just welcomed—it's celebrated.

With the dawn of the 21st century, the leadership landscape began to show a different hue. We’re finally stepping away from that stereotyped imagery of leadership and entertaining the idea that maybe, just maybe, leadership isn’t about asserting dominance and control. It’s about sparking curiosity. However, despite our strides (in both leadership and fashion), challenges persist. Women make up a meager 29% of senior roles globally. And while our leadership style, rooted in empathy and inquiry, is gaining traction, there’s still a world to conquer.

?See, in a world full of problems as vast and varied as our own, having all the answers is not only improbable but also kind of boring. But posing the right questions? Ah, that’s where the magic lies! It’s like going from watching TV in black and white to suddenly experiencing it in technicolor. Asking questions means tapping into a reservoir of creativity and potential that standardized answers just can't offer.

Take the story of Google. It wasn’t born from a comprehensive, know-it-all solution. Instead, it was a simple, yet profound, question: "What if everyone could access information universally?" A mere question revolutionized our entire relationship with information and technology.

It's not just about the big, world-changing questions, though. Leaders today recognize that asking thoughtful, probing questions on daily issues helps in understanding different perspectives. It's about encouraging teams to think critically, diverging before converging on potential solutions.

The beauty of fostering a culture of curiosity is that it doesn’t just cater to the leaders or the innovators. It taps into the potential of everyone in the organization. By constantly inquiring, teams don’t just address problems head-on, they pull them apart, understand their intricacies, and come up with solutions that are not just effective but transformative.

So, next time you're leading a brainstorming session or directing a team meeting, try to resist the urge to be the all-knowing sage on the stage. Be the guide on the side. Let’s ditch that old, dusty playbook that insists leadership is about dishing out answers. Ask questions, inspire curiosity, and watch as your team rises to the occasion, surprising even themselves with the brilliance of their ideas.

?From my vantage point, as a woman who’s traded the metaphorical kitchen for the boardroom (though, I still rock both), I've championed the transformative power of questions and diverse leadership. Because real leadership isn’t about fitting into yesterday’s standards; it’s about challenging, redefining, and setting new ones.

If we truly wish to lead, let’s lead with questions, not answers. Because, in the wise words of Voltaire, "Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers." And perhaps, while we're at it, let’s also acknowledge that leadership knows no gender or seniority. Because in the grand tapestry of the corporate world, isn’t it high time we added a lot more color?

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