Effective leaders ask great questions, unencumbered by any need to present themselves as experts. Many—particularly people new to management—wrongly believe that their role is to have the answers and appear authoritative. However, the less you think you know, the deeper your potential for creative solutions. A leader who understands that ongoing progress requires continuous learning, and that learning begins with an open mind, has a keen advantage over others. Consider the questions: "What are we avoiding here?" and "What is needed for us to remove these barriers?" and "How can we turn this problem into an asset for us?" When you pose challenging questions to your team, enormous resources and enthusiasm are unleashed.
Comments are most welcome--click the comment link, below.
______________
Monday LeaderTips are posted here and emailed every Sunday evening to leaders and professionals worldwide. For a free anonymous subscription, send a blank email here. LeaderTips are also carried, from time to time, on Business Week Online.
