It's Not Just About Answering, It's About Asking

The Question: What’s it like to be a manager?

One of the most common responses I hear is: “Exhausting.”

• Managing People: I pour my heart and soul into guiding my team, teaching them step by step, but they barely move without constant nudging. Innovation feels out of reach, and accountability is a struggle. The more people I manage, the more emotionally draining it becomes.
• Managing Tasks: I handle everything myself, no detail too small. But every evening, I open my team chat and find another slew of “What should we do?” messages waiting for me.

The result? The competent bear more work, and the workload never stops. How can we make management more efficient and less exhausting?

A while ago, I discussed this topic with a senior executive friend, Alex, whose insights offered a fresh perspective. His answer: Learn to ask questions.

The Power of Asking Questions

Alex, an independent board member of a public company and a senior executive, has honed his leadership style by focusing on the art of questioning.

“Asking questions is the key to uncovering the root of problems,” Alex explained.

The true hallmark of a great manager isn’t their ability to immediately provide answers, but their ability to ask the right questions:

• Can you empower your team through questions?
• Can you identify problems through questions?
• Can you enable both people and results through questions?

Exceptional managers excel at answering; extraordinary leaders master the art of questioning.

A Simple Case: “I Need a Ladder—Who Can Find One?”

Alex shared a relatable example:

A manager needs a ladder and says to an employee, “There’s a ladder next door; bring it to me.” The employee checks and finds no ladder. Their response? “Sorry, there’s no ladder next door.”

Here’s the issue: even though the manager gave precise instructions, the result was still disappointing.

What if the manager had instead asked: “I need a ladder—who can find one?”

This subtle shift changes everything:

1. The manager speaks less and works less.
2. The employee is prompted to think and take ownership.

Direct instructions often limit creativity and accountability. Questions, however, drive engagement, responsibility, and innovation.

Questions inspire thought; answers end imagination.

The Value of Questions: A Holistic View for Decisions

In one case, Alex joined a high-level discussion at a major company, debating whether to accept a non-profitable order. The team was divided:

• The marketing leader wanted to accept the order to meet revenue targets.
• The finance leader opposed it due to the lack of profitability.
• Production and procurement leaders argued over capacity and resources.

Instead of providing a definitive answer, Alex recommended focusing on questions:

1. What is the definition of “profit” for both marketing and finance?
2. Have we categorized customers? What type of customer is this?
3. If this is a long-term partner, does this unprofitable order pave the way for future gains?
4. What are the risks of rejecting this order?
5. If we accept, how can we ensure quality and avoid a price war?

The result? The team stopped debating and started collaborating, aligning their perspectives toward the company’s broader interests.

The essence of asking questions: It’s not about finding one correct answer but exploring multiple possibilities to drive consensus and smarter decisions.

How to Improve Your Questioning Skills

Alex shared six practical questions to strengthen your questioning ability:

1. What is the problem you need to solve? Define it clearly.
2. Why do you need to solve this problem? Understand the ultimate goal.
3. What is your target for solving this problem? Be specific about success criteria.
4. What are the key factors to achieve this goal? Identify the core drivers.
5. What are the possible solutions? Evaluate alternatives.
6. What is your next action? Make the solution actionable.

These questions help you move from surface-level symptoms to uncovering root causes, driving more effective solutions.

Questioning: A Lever for High-Impact Leadership

Alex emphasized that questioning isn’t just a skill; it’s a form of metacognitive thinking:

• Engage teams and unlock their potential.
• Uncover deeper problems for better solutions.
• Connect the dots across complex issues to achieve clarity and consensus.

As Jack Welch famously said: “The best leaders are not the ones with all the answers but the ones who ask the best questions.”

In an era where AI can deliver 100 answers in seconds, mastering the art of asking impactful questions is more important than ever.

What’s your take?