What would you like to do about it? Learning to ask this question is one of the most important leadership lessons I learned in the past year.
I was so used to providing answers to my team for everything, and they became used to receiving answers and not thinking of solutions by themselves. But I noticed that my supervisor does not provide me with answers but guides me to discover my own answers through a series of questions.
Jim Collins, on a podcast, said, “answer inquiries with questions to help others discover their own answers. I can’t give you the answers you need, but you can give yourself the answers you need.”
"Answer inquiries with questions to help others discover their own answers. I can't give you the answers you need, but you can give yourself the answers you need." Jim Collins Click To TweetWhy It is Important to Ask Questions
Your staff would-be more successful and build better confidence if they were in the habit of asking the right questions of themselves and others to arrive at answers and solutions that help them work and live better.
1. Problem Solving
Our daily lives are filled with small and big problems that need solutions. It is important to give people the tools needed to find solutions to these problems. The world needs more great problem solvers. The only way to find solutions is by asking the right questions.
Problem-solving skills are essential for every manager and member of senior leadership in an organization. But it is also crucial for all staff.
Employees should have problem-solving skills to enable them to address problems independently, thus decreasing downtime, increasing efficiency, and maximizing productivity.
Practice Makes Perfect
The more you encourage your team to think critically and to think about solutions to their problems, the more they perfect the art of problem-solving.
Critical Thinking
Empowering others to seek out their own answers enable them to develop critical thinking skills.
Steps to Teaching Problem Solving.
Conclusion
Answering a question with a question(s) might be frustrating to some people, but it is an important step in leadership and personal development.
Helping people to arrive at their own answers is great. But even more importantly, empowering your staff to come to you with possible solutions to problems begins to create a culture of inquiry.
Thanks for exploring this topic with me
Idara Joy
3 Comments
Shar
Yes, these are indeed key points that help with better leadership skills and results. Problem solving is a very important skill that can be developed and improved through practice.
Jen @ JENRON DESIGNS
Somehow I feel like this type of critical thinking is not being taught in schools anymore? The students I have seen graduating lately seem to missing some of this which is such a shame.
Nikki
I can attest to that. I think parents have to take it upon themselves to help their kids gain critical thinking skills.