Why Great Leaders Focus on Questions, Not Answers

?? When I first became a leader, I thought my job was to have all the answers. Spoiler alert: I was wrong.

One day, in a critical team meeting, someone asked me a question I hadn’t considered. It was simple, but it completely reframed the problem we were tackling. That’s when it hit me: The best leaders aren’t the ones answering questions - they are the ones asking them.

Here’s why asking smarter questions isn’t just a leadership skill. It is "the" leadership skill.

Why Most Leaders Miss the Mark

Leaders often think their role is to direct the team, set the vision, provide answers, and make big decisions. Does this sound familiar?

Here’s the problem: When you answer the questions you pose, you narrow the conversation's scope to your thinking and box out the team's thinking. When have you seen a team express different points of view after a manager expresses their opinion on a topic? You risk shutting down creativity and missing better solutions your team might develop.

At GoDaddy, we were solving for cart size optimization. My instinct was to push for an approach I knew had worked before. But instead of dictating the next step, I asked the team, “What’s something we haven’t tried yet to understand why customers leave?” That one question sparked a discussion that led us to uncover a major pain point - something no one had considered before.

This isn’t an isolated case. Time and again, I’ve seen how asking questions can unlock solutions that otherwise would’ve remained hidden.

How to Start Asking Smarter Questions

Not all questions are created equal. The best questions are open-ended and focused on uncovering new perspectives.

So, how do you start asking smarter questions?

Here are a few ways I approach this:

• Reframe the Problem: Instead of asking, “How do we solve X?” ask, “What if X isn’t the real problem?”
• Expand the Box: Ask your team, “What’s one thing we’re assuming is true here that might not be?”
• Probe for the Why: When reviewing a solution, dig deeper: “Why do we think this will work? What evidence supports it?”

One of the most impactful exercises I led at eBay was asking, “What’s one thing we’ve overlooked about our users’ motivations when they visit us from a Search Engine?” This question led to a breakthrough in how we designed our advertising landing page, driving a measurable lift in conversion.

The Power of Questions in Tough Situations

Things get tricky here: Questions must address what’s not being said.

At an early-stage startup, our team struggled with defining priorities. Everyone seemed focused on building bells and whistles and avoiding solving critical risks. Instead of focusing on solutions, I asked, “What’s one risk we haven’t discussed because it feels uncomfortable?” That simple question surfaced critical concerns and aligned everyone to focus on solving that problem first.

Asking subjective questions, like how people feel, can transform challenging situations. It builds trust and unearths hidden tensions that might otherwise derail progress.

Here are a few ways I approach this:

• Check Alignment: “Are we all solving the same problem here?” You would be surprised how often teams realize they’re not.
• Encourage Vulnerability: “What’s one thing you haven’t said yet because it feels uncomfortable?” This approach works best when you lead with your vulnerability.
• Uncover Bias: “What’s one assumption we’re making that we should be challenging?”

These questions don’t just solve problems; they strengthen your team’s ability to collaborate and think critically.

Balancing Curiosity and Action

There’s a balance to strike. Asking great questions is powerful, but avoiding decisions is not an excuse.

I have been in meetings where the questions never end. And guess what? Nothing gets done. Great leaders know when it’s time to stop asking and start deciding. They know what questions to ask when thinking divergently and what decisions to make to converge toward action.

Here are a few ways I approach this:

• Define intentions: Clarify the intention of the conversation (divergence or convergence) and define the agenda appropriately.
• Set Boundaries: Before answering questions, define how much time you will spend exploring. This will keep the discussion focused.
• Look for Patterns: When you start hearing the same answers, it’s a sign you’ve hit diminishing returns.
• End with Action: To translate insights into progress, always conclude with, “What’s our next step?”

At Meta, I learned that asking questions without action frustrated teams. Meetings went around in circles and did not converge. By asking the teams to send the agenda (along with the expected time to spend on each topic), we empowered attendees to move the conversation forward without alienating anyone.

Coupling curiosity with decisiveness creates a culture where exploration drives execution.

How Questions Build High-Performing Teams

The magic of great questions is that they shift ownership to the team.

When you stop dictating and start asking, you unleash creativity. You empower people to think bigger and explore ideas they might not have shared. And most importantly, you remind everyone that leadership isn’t about you. It’s about making the team stronger.

One of my proudest moments at Meta was leading a brainstorming session for Messenger Presence. Instead of reviewing incremental ideas, I asked the team, “What would this product look like if we started from scratch?” The result was a flood of innovative ideas, many of which millions of users use daily.

Questions build resilience. By modeling curiosity, you teach your team to approach problems with a growth mindset. They become more adaptable, collaborative, and confident in tackling uncertainty.

What Happens When You Lead With Curiosity

Here’s a truth I’ve learned the hard way: No one expects you to have all the answers. They expect you to help them find better answers.

When you lead with curiosity, you:

• Create a culture of psychological safety.
• Encourage bold, unconventional thinking.
• Build trust by showing you value everyone’s perspective.

The best leaders I know aren’t the ones with all the answers. They’re the ones who ask the questions that no one else is asking.

So, the next time you’re in a meeting, resist the urge to share your answer. Instead, try this:

1. Ask one question that reframes the problem.
2. Ask one question that challenges an assumption.
3. Ask one question about what’s not being said.

You might uncover the insight that changes everything.

TL;DR

Great leaders don’t have all the answers - they ask smarter questions.?

By reframing problems, challenging assumptions, and uncovering what’s unsaid, you unlock creativity, build trust, and empower your team to think bigger. Balance curiosity with decisive action to drive execution and create a culture of growth and resilience. Lead with curiosity, and you'll uncover insights that transform everything.

SkillSculpt

?? Product Managers, Technical Leads, Engineering Managers, Technical Product Managers, Data Scientists, Designers, and User Experience Researchers are leveraging SkillSculpt to elevate their careers.

SkillSculpt offers a range of services to help you level up your career, including:

• Mock interviews: One-on-one interviews with personalized written feedback
• Coaching / Mentoring: Guiding you to solve your toughest challenges

We provide you lifetime access to our library of resources to learn and grow.

If you're serious about landing your dream role, SkillSculpt is the perfect solution.?

?? Sign up for your session at https://rebrand.ly/skillsculpt today!