• Home
  • Leadership Coaching Programs
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Leaders Create Space
    • The People Project
  • Book Steve
  • Talk To Steve
  • Testimonials
  • We Believe
  • Blog
  • About Steve
  • Talk To Steve
  • Book Steve
  • We Believe
  • Testimonials
  • About Steve

Next Level Executive Coaching

Mobile Menu
Mobile Menu
Talk To Steve
  • Home
  • Leadership Coaching Programs
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Leaders Create Space
    • The People Project
Home / Steve’s Blog / A Core Skill for Leaders

A Core Skill for Leaders

December 22, 2009 by Steve Laswell

What happens when you frame a great question?

One of my communication axioms is focused on the role and use of questions. 

Ask More, Tell Less; Teach when You Can

 What do you think?

Consider your response if I was coaching you and said: 

Look, you must stop telling people what to do; I need you to start asking more questions. I want you to use open-ended questions, not yes/no questions.  You will not motivate people by telling them what to do.  Okay?

What is your response?

 

Now conisder your response to me as I ask the following…

  • What happens when someone “tells” you what to do?
  • How do you typically respond to being “told”?
  • When it comes to your communication do you tell more or ask more?  How do you know that is true?
  • How do you think people respond when you tell more and ask less? 
  • What is the impact of a well framed question on the communication experience? 
  • What is the impact of a well framed question on the person?
  • When someone you respect asks you an open-ended question how do you feel?

 

This core leadership skill – framing great questions – brings positive results. 

Which of the following benefits do you desire in your relationships? 

  1. Honor.   When you seek someone’s input they feel valued 
  2. Objectivity.   A well-timed question slows the conversation down in a helpful manner
  3. Cooperation.   Support and willingness to comply are more likely to be given
  4. Performance.   These benefits lead to improved effectiveness

 

Last week I came across a video entitled: “Fifty People, One Question: New York”.   Part of the impact of the video is the masterful way “the story” unfolds.

So, if you have 5 minutes here is the video:

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

For further reflection or discussion with others:

1.  What did you observe in the video about the impact of the question on the people?

  

2.   How did hearing their story (their answers) affect your thoughts (judgment) toward them?

  

3.  Which person’s answer had the most impact on you?  Why

   

Oh, by the way, at the end of the day what do you wish would happen?

Ask more, tell less, teach when you can.

                          How ready are you to see what will happen…?

Merry Christmas!

 

« Leadership: Gift or Game?
A Leadership View on Help »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tags: Asking Questions, Connecting, Employee Engagement, Leadership Influence, PeopleThis entry was posted on December 22, 2009 at 8:55 am and is filed under: Communication, Leadership Development

Categories

Subscribe to Steve’s Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Next Level Executive Coaching

Phone: (918) 296-7785

Connect With Steve

Leadership Coaching Programs
Resources
We Believe
Testimonials
Contact Steve
About Steve

Subscribe to Steve’s Blog

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© 2020 Next Level Executive Coaching, LLC | Privacy Policy | Designed by StructureM | Hosted by WildmanDesign

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in