To be an effective leader, you need to connect with others. However, many of us often second guess ourselves or “self censor” in an attempt to go with the flow. Or perhaps to just not sound stupid. No matter your reason, I have a pretty basic tip that you should write on your nearest sticky note and slap onto your computer monitor, laptop screen, or desk: ask questions.
Let’s unpack this basic guidance for a bit. When I say you should ask questions, I don’t mean ONLY asking questions and not providing answers others are seeking. I also don’t mean to ask ANY question just for the sake of hearing yourself speak. That’s counter-productive and can lead to your team feeling like you don’t know what’s going on or can’t quite grasp the content of the discussion.
To put it simply, ask questions that help others. Be the devil’s advocate for someone. Be the person to ask them the difficult questions they were secretly hoping no one would ask. In my experience, having a leader that’s able to quickly grasp what you’re trying to say and then willing to ask you tough questions is worth their weight in gold.
Ask questions without micromanaging
If you’re just scanning this article, I recommend you skip down to the example questions below. They’re questions I ask my reports and colleagues on a regular basis and they generally help them figure out the answers they need. All without me coming across as a micromanaging boss. I’ll be sure to write some notes on what it takes to NOT be a micromanaging boss soon. In the meantime, I hope these questions below are helpful and give you some ideas on how to make the most of your next conversation with a colleague, report, or even your own manager. Never be afraid to ask questions to those who are under you, beside you, or above you.
Rule of thumb: Ask questions that your instinct tells you will help someone else find the solution they need. For example, ask a direct report if they considered a few new angles for a proposal they’re pitching. Or ask your manager how they’d handle a challenging situation. Don’t assume those above you have all the answers. Often, it helps to just communicate and be open and honest. Let others know you’re human and you’re going to better connect with your colleagues at all levels.
What kinds of questions should effective leaders ask?
There are a few tried and true questions in my repertoire. See below for a short list of those questions I typically ask every day. They’re useful in helping colleagues be better performers, improve your connection, and show that you’re being thoughtful about the matters at hand.
- Who are you working with on this?
[Helps ensure collaboration and avoids individuals “being the hero” and trying to take all the credit. Encourage collaboration because, as the saying goes, “you go fast alone but farther together.” - Who else has reviewed or signed off on this?
[Ensure you’re not the only reviewer of something, especially if it’s potentially controversial within or outside your company.] - What does success look like? Why?
[Don’t settle for short-term best case scenario answers here. Poke and prod until you get an answer that’s a bit uncomfortable. Everything isn’t always sunshine and rainbows but this question is a positive way to start the conversation about when this work should end / scale up.] - What are you worried will cause this to fail? What are the roadblocks to success? Why?
[This one catches people off guard sometimes. Fair warning. It’s also one of the most productive ways a leader can quickly identify ways they can help.] - Have you considered alternative solutions?
[Just because someone worked hard on a set of slides or a pitch for you, doesn’t mean it’s the right or best thing to do. For more junior employees, be sure to introduce them to others that may want to collaborate. Don’t expect them to know everyone you know.] - What can I do to help, specifically?
[As in question #4, this is a great way to show that you want to roll up your sleeves and clear the skies for your team.] - When can you provide the next update?
[I’ve seen many pitches and presentations that have a big reveal, sign-off, and then … crickets. Whether you’re signing off on a project or just getting an update, set up the next update in the heat of the moment. Don’t let too much time pass or everyone will lose focus and momentum. That said, use your judgement on how frequently everyone should provide updates. This is because updates (and presenting to leaders) takes bandwidth and time to prepare.] - Have we tried this before? Has another organization or company? If so, how’d it go?
[This can be a tough one! Don’t be afraid to do a little Googling yourself to see if anyone has done what’s being discussed. You may be surprised to find others have tried and failed (or seen success) but you hadn’t heard about it.] - Why this approach?
[Don’t ask this question in a mean way, if that makes sense. But it helps to play devil’s advocate and ask why someone chose a specific path over another. This question will also likely set off “leadership alarm bells” where it’s clear someone wants to do something that another team should be doing.] - Do we need a short-term or long-term plan for this?
[Not everything needs to be a major effort. If something is a quick fix for a one-off issue, leave it that way. Don’t overcomplicate.] - Will it scale?
[Having worked at some of the biggest companies in the world, I can tell you this question gets asked … a lot. Be sure you know what “scale” means in the context of your business though. For some, scale means more headcount. For others, it means more global coverage. And for others it simply means more revenue.] - Where should we start? Why?
[The “why” part of this question is critical because starting points for work should always be included. So if you ask “why should we start there and not here?” you’ll put folks into a slightly different mindset which can help unblock thinking.]
Share your go-to questions with Scaled Operations!
What kind of questions do you like to ask your colleagues? Whether it’s over email, chat, Zoom, or in-person, there’s always a chance to improve things by asking some of the above questions. Share yours in the comments below or by tweeting @ScaledOps on Twitter or @ScaledOperations on Instagram anytime!
Featured Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya
