Are you asking the right questions?

Asking the right questions is crucial for a business leader to make informed decisions, understand their team's challenges, and identify opportunities for growth. Here are some tips on how to ask the right questions as a business or people leader:

1. Be specific: Instead of asking broad questions, be specific in what you want to know. This will help your team provide you with more precise and actionable information.
2. Avoid leading questions: Avoid asking questions that suggest a specific answer. This can skew the responses you receive and prevent you from getting a complete picture of the situation.
3. Ask open-ended questions: Open-ended questions allow your team to provide detailed responses that can provide valuable insights. They also encourage team members to think critically and provide thoughtful responses.
4. Listen actively: Pay close attention to your team's responses and actively listen to what they have to say. This shows that you value their input and helps you better understand their perspectives.
5. Follow up: If you don't fully understand the answer, ask for clarification. Also, don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions to gain deeper insights.
6. Prioritize: Identify the most important questions you need to ask and prioritize them. This will help you focus on what's most critical and avoid getting sidetracked.
7. Don't assume, clarify: Avoid making assumptions about what you think you already know. Instead, approach each conversation with an open mind and a willingness to learn.

By asking the right questions and actively listening to the responses, you can gain valuable insights that can help you make informed decisions and drive your business forward.

There are several books and thought leaders that provide valuable insights and guidance on how to ask questions effectively in corporate settings. By adopting their principles and practices, you can develop the skills and mindset necessary to lead with curiosity, creativity, and impact.

Here are a few I recommend: The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever by Michael Bungay Stanier, The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, Leading with Questions: How Leaders Find the Right Solutions by Knowing What to Ask by Michael Marquardt, A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger, What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith

If you are a business or HR leader - do share your views in the comments section! Would love to know stories or instances from your industry.