That title carries a pretty big promise. After all, the best leaders are excellent at asking questions in all sorts of situations. I also hope the title is stoking your curiosity. Urging you to read on, wondering what is the leadership question that Kevin thinks is the most important of all. I will share the question, but also my rationale for why it is such an important leadership question. The question is:
What do you think?
When You Can Use It
There are many times and situations when you can ask this question. Here are four specific opportunities:
- When you don’t know the answer. The obvious time to ask this question is when you don’t have an answer yourself. “What do you think?” is a great way to express your curiosity by asking others for their thoughts.
- When you know the answer but want their input. Especially as a leader, you might want people’s input (more on this below) even if you already have an answer. Use the question in this situation not as a test (I’ll ask them what they think to see if they know the right answer), but to engage them.
- When you are looking for new perspectives. Many things we talk about at work aren’t topics or situations with a single right answer. In these situations, asking people what they think will help you see their viewpoint and experience while expanding yours at the same time.
- When you are coaching. As a coach, you want people to be engaged with you. And the best way to do that is to ask them what they think earlier in the conversation. “What do you think (you did well)?”, and “What do you think (you could have done more effectively)?” are powerful coaching questions.
Why It Is So Important
It is one thing to know when to use this important leadership question. But when you understand why it is so important (perhaps even the most important), you will see the power, and implement it more effectively and frequently. Here are four reasons why it is such a powerful question.
- It creates conversation and interaction. As a leader, we (should) want to create conversations with our team members, colleagues, customers, and well, everyone. By inviting people to share their thoughts, you are creating the chance for a conversation. If you don’t ask the question but simply give your opinion, there likely won’t be a conversation at all.
- It changes the balance of power. Whether or not we acknowledge it, there is a power differential between us as a leader and those we lead. Even if we wish to minimize this feeling with others, it does exist. When we ask people what they think, we are immediately reducing that differential – creating a more level intellectual playing field. Now we are searching and solving together. Often when we authentically want to know what they think, we make it safer for people to share their thoughts.
- It raises the expectations of others. If people ask you questions and you give them answers, they will keep bringing you questions. But if you reply to their question with “What do you think?”, it changes the situation. Now people see that you value them and expect them to think and share, not just bring you their problems and questions, expecting your answer.
- It empowers others (and creates ownership). When people know you will ask them about their thoughts, they take more ownership of problems and situations. They are more thoughtful and intentional, and more accountable for their approaches and thoughts. The more we engender and nurture this on our teams, the more effective and productive our teams will be.
When you think about this question in these ways, you can see why it is such an important leadership question. As you use it more frequently, for the right reasons, you will build more engaged, connected, and confident team members.
What do you think?
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Here’s my question for you – Do you want to create a more effective and attractive culture for your team or organization? If so, joining me May 1st might be the best thing you could do this year! Check out (and register for) our upcoming virtual peer learning event to help you build your team culture.
I don't know if I have just asked the question verbatim "What Do You Think?" but I had a former employee call me up one day and exclaimed that she finally figured out why I always asked her questions instead of just giving her the answer. n( I had actually demoted here from a 'leadership" position that caused her to decide to quite.) She said it used to irritate her that I wouldn't just give her the answer, but now she understood why! I was trying to make her think! She then proceeded to thank me for that!
Too many are basically lazy and just want to be given or told the answers or what to do. It takes a little work to think through what you are doing, why and possible outcomes and risks that could come about as a result of an action taken.
Today its getting worse with all the AI involvement, idiot lights, constant media or ads telling us what we should do and whatever to push us in a direction without considering whether that plan or action is really right for us or anyone else affected by it.