THE BIG IDEA: Routinely ask these questions to keep your team enthusiastic, committed, and confident in achieving a shared vision.
Great leaders know that everyone wants to be a part of creating the vision. Keep your team involved and motivated by asking these three questions.
1. “How are things going?”
You don’t have to wait for the annual review to check in with your team. Asking “How are things going?” is an excellent way to keep staff engaged and working together. Inquiring about their task at hand, their progress on a project, or about their career path. Frequent in-the-moment feedback will help everyone know their contributions are critical to achieving the vision.
2. “What do you think?”
“Managers do not talk to their subordinates about their problems, but they know how to make the subordinates talk about theirs.” – Peter Drucker
Drucker’s quote is a great reminder that a leader’s role is to help their staff succeed.
Help your team dig deeper by asking them what they think. Being a leader is not about having all the right answers. Leadership is about facilitating others to find a solution.
Try to reach out to all your staff, not just outspoken team members. Everyone has an idea of how to achieve the vision. Listen and share those ideas with all your team members. You will be surprised how team members can inspire each other.
3. “How can I help you?”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King Jr.
King’s famous quote is correct in every aspect of life. Don’t wait for issues to come to you. Ask those around you how you can lend a hand. Then, follow through with action: make sure tasks are done, work side-by-side with your staff, and become their biggest cheerleader—especially when big projects are due.
When you care about your staff and their contributions, they will reward you with a genuine effort in making the vision a reality.