The Questions That Change the Way You Lead

Too many leaders still think their job is to have the answers.  However, leadership today isn’t about certainty, it’s about curiosity.

The best leaders don’t dominate with statements.  They disrupt with questions.

The Power of Asking Better Questions

In 2024, a study by Harvard Business Review found that managers who asked more “open and follow-up” questions were rated as 23% more effective at fostering collaboration and engagement.  Why? Because questions signal trust.  They show humility.  They create psychological safety — the oxygen of high-performing teams.

Questions turn a directive culture into a discovery culture.

Think about your last team meeting.

Did you instruct… or did you invite?  Because those two verbs build entirely different environments.

What Great Questions Sound Like

Most leaders ask very tactical questions, such as “How’s that project going?”

This is more of a compliance check than a great question.  

Instead, try:

• “What’s surprising you right now?”

• “What’s working… and what’s not?”

• “What would you do differently if you could start again tomorrow?”

Each one shifts ownership, expands awareness, and sparks learning.

When I coach senior leaders, I often see this pivot moment; the instant they realise that great leadership isn’t about adding more direction, it’s about subtracting assumptions.

Build a Question Habit / Culture

If you want to transform your leadership conversations, start with these small rituals:

Question of the Week
At the start of each week, post one question on your team Slack or whiteboard. Something human, not corporate. “What gave you energy last week?” You’ll learn more about your team in one Monday than a year of pulse surveys.

Switch Update Meetings to Discovery Sessions
Before you ask for a status update, ask “What have you learned this week?” You’ll get richer data and a smarter team.

End Every 1:1 With Reflection
Ask, “What’s the most useful part of this conversation?”
That one question alone can boost retention of coaching outcomes by up to 60%, according to research by the International Coaching Federation.

Why This Matters

In an era of AI, automation, and algorithmic answers, your value as a leader isn’t in what you know.

It’s in what you explore.

Questions shape culture.
They build trust.
They surface insight.

The right question doesn’t just reveal the answer.  It reveals the person.

So next time you lead a conversation, don’t try to be the smartest in the room.  Be the most curious.