Chapter 9The Power of Questions
Leading by means of asking questions is a great way to gain leadership leverage—increasing your influence as the leader without putting more effort into the process. The way to take advantage of the power found in asking questions is to ask Darn Good Questions.
A Darn Good Question has three elements. The first is purpose: the primary objective of A Darn Good Question is not to get information, but rather to lead and influence a follower with some specific end in mind. The second element goes hand in glove with purpose: a specific audience targeted by the purpose of the question.
The third element is the question itself: A Darn Good Question is based on one of the Key Words: who, what, when, where, how, or why. Starting with any one of these in your question assures an answer other than a simple yes or no. Moreover, each of these words will move your target audience in a specific, different direction as chosen by the leader.
Preparation Questions
- Why do you think most leaders are more inclined to tell their followers what they think, rather than lead by asking Darn Good Questions?
- When has a leader you worked for asked you what you now recognize as a Darn Good Question, what impact did that have on you?
- What are some Darn Good Questions you can ask some of your followers?
| Purpose | Audience | Darn Good Question |
|---|---|---|
Debrief Questions
- What situations did you choose as your opportunity to lead by asking Darn ...