Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast with Jeff Hancher! When was the last time you asked your team a question? Many entry-level employees are encouraged to ask lots of questions, but the further you go up the corporate ladder, the fewer questions you tend to ask. Leaders do not want to be seen as weak or uncertain. However, the reality is that asking questions is the only way you can make confident decisions that will empower your employees! This week Jeff will show you the questions you should be asking and the impact they will have on your company.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
If you want to improve not only your business but also the team that supports it, you need to start asking questions! The answers you receive will help your team feel more confident, empowered, and motivated.
Q: When was the last time your leader asked you questions? What kind of questions did they ask? Did they take any action on your answers? How did their effort affect your morale?
The answers to your biggest questions are going to come from your team.
Great Leaders Ask Questions That Cover These Four Areas
Transparency
Because you cannot see all the details of your organization, you must establish a culture of transparency. As the leader, you may not have a complete view of the details and responsibilities of all of your people. Asking the right questions will help you learn and show your employees that you are genuinely interested in their success.
Can you walk me through your typical day?
Can you tell me what you think we should stop doing?
What should success look like?
What are people thinking but afraid to say?
Confidence Builders
Asking these types of questions will help your employees understand that you trust them and are available to offer support where needed.
Where can I focus my efforts and attention to better support you in your role?
How can we get more people to do it the way that you do it?
What if this challenge is really an opportunity for success?
Your Employee’s Career Goals
The answers to these questions will be very different, but they will also boost employee morale. Your team will feel like you value them as individuals, and your relationship will be stronger.
Where do you want to be in the organization in 3 or 5 years?
Why is that important to you?
How can I better help you achieve your goals?
Productivity and Innovation
Leaders should always be thinking of ways to serve their customers better and find competitive advantages. The more feedback you get, the better! Often, a company’s best ideas come from their people, and it is a leader’s job to draw out the best in them.
How can we give our customers a better experience?
What resources do we need to achieve our goals that we don’t have today?
What are the weakest parts of our strategy, and how can we make them better?
What next big breakthrough awaits your organization that you haven’t even uncovered yet?
Q: Are there any other areas you think leaders should ask questions? Does one of these areas stand out to you more than the others? Why?
Application Activities:
When was the last time you asked your employees questions in a one-on-one environment? When you next meet with your team members, schedule time to ask them questions. Depending on their personality, you might like to open with personal questions and then get down to business, or you might like to take care of business and then close on a lighter note. Consider which approach will help your employee feel the most calm and open with you.
Put time in your next meeting to allow for questions. Spend time asking your team questions and allowing them to ask you questions. When you give them honest, transparent responses, you will receive greater honesty and transparency when you ask them questions.
How comfortable do you feel asking questions? Sometimes we hesitate to ask questions because we feel like we already know the answer, or we are afraid that people will not give us honest answers. Check out this article on asking better questions and apply some of their tips to the next meeting you have.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2020
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