Great leadership thrives on asking the right questions. Questions open the door to meaningful conversations, make employees feel heard, and foster a more engaged and motivated team. When leaders ask questions, they help build a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Plus, asking the right questions can get to the root of issues and spark collaborative problem-solving, leading to better solutions.
Good leaders ask questions. Great leaders ask themselves questions.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen many successful executives who not only ask their team questions but also take time to question themselves. When was the last time you asked yourself a question to help grow as a leader? What kind of questions have helped you become a better version of yourself?
Being a good leader means asking the right questions of others, but being a truly great leader means reflecting on your own actions and mindset. Here are eight areas where leaders can ask themselves important questions to spark personal growth:
- Vision and Goals
- What’s my vision for the team or organization?
- Are our goals clear and aligned with that vision?
- Is my vision inspiring to the team? How can I make it more compelling?
- What do team members think is missing in our vision?
- Which goals should we prioritize, and why?
- Are we focusing on the right areas? Are the goals challenging but not overwhelming?
- How can I encourage collaboration to achieve our shared goals?
- Communication
- Am I communicating effectively with my team?
- How can I improve my communication style?
- Do I create an environment where people feel comfortable giving feedback?
- Am I overwhelming my team with too much information?
- How can I make my communication more streamlined?
- Am I being transparent about decisions, challenges, and changes?
- Am I ensuring everyone’s voice is heard and encouraging diverse perspectives?
- Team Development
- How am I supporting my team’s growth and development?
- Are there opportunities for mentorship and skill-building?
- Am I encouraging team members to pursue personal and professional development?
- Do I know each team member’s career aspirations and how to help them achieve their goals?
- How can I create an environment where mistakes are learning opportunities?
- How can I model a growth mindset for my team?
- Feedback
- Am I open to feedback?
- How do I encourage team members to share their thoughts and concerns?
- Am I fostering a safe space for feedback and open communication?
- Am I modeling effective feedback practices myself?
- How can I encourage the team to give feedback to one another?
- Is my feedback constructive and focused on growth?
- Am I focusing on behaviors, not personal traits, when giving feedback?
- Decision-Making
- Are my decisions well-informed and thoughtful?
- Am I involving the right people in the decision-making process?
- How can I encourage my team to contribute ideas and share their thoughts?
- Who else should be involved in this decision?
- Am I considering diverse perspectives and expertise?
- What are the long-term impacts of my decisions?
- How can I communicate decisions clearly to my team?
- Inclusivity
- Am I creating an inclusive environment?
- How can I ensure diverse perspectives are valued?
- What is the team culture like when it comes to inclusivity?
- Are all voices being heard? How diverse is my team?
- How can I create safe spaces for team members to share their experiences related to inclusivity?
- How can I address my own biases in my leadership style?
- Conflict Resolution
- How do I handle conflicts within my team?
- Am I addressing issues constructively and with empathy?
- How can I encourage a collaborative approach to resolving conflicts?
- Am I remaining neutral and objective, avoiding taking sides?
- What can I learn from this conflict to handle future situations better?
- Self-Reflection
- What are my strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
- How can I leverage my strengths and improve my weaknesses?
- Are my actions in line with my core values?
- Am I making time for regular self-reflection?
- What are my long-term goals as a leader, and how am I working toward them?
- What’s my self-care routine like, and how can I improve it?
- Am I actively seeking feedback from my team, and how do I respond?
The power of asking questions in leadership is immense. By reflecting on these key areas and actively seeking input from your team, you can create an open, continuously improving culture. These questions—whether about vision, communication, team development, feedback, decision-making, inclusivity, conflict resolution, or self-reflection—help you grow as a leader and increase your adaptability.
Ultimately, great leadership is an ongoing journey of learning, growth, and empathy. Regularly reflecting on these questions not only helps you improve, but also inspires your team, leading to a more collaborative and thriving work environment.
