Traditional models of top-down decision-making are giving way to a more collaborative and empowering approach to leadership. The focus is no longer on making decisions for employees; instead, effective leaders are now striving to ask thought-provoking questions and empower their teams to make the decisions themselves. This shift is driven by the recognition that the best solutions often emerge from the collective wisdom of diverse teams and that employees are more engaged and productive when they have a sense of ownership and autonomy in their work.

Elevated expectations for the C-suite further underscore the need for this transformation in leadership styles. As businesses face unprecedented challenges and disruptions, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders are looking to senior executives for more than just strategic direction and financial stewardship. They expect C-suite leaders to drive innovation, foster a culture of inclusion and resilience, and serve as ethical role models who prioritize the long-term success and sustainability of the organization.

In this context, interested leadership – asking insightful questions to facilitate learning, collaboration, and problem-solving – has become a crucial skill for modern executives. By harnessing the power of questions, C-suite leaders can unlock the potential of their teams, enabling them to navigate the complexities of the current business environment with confidence and agility.

The Importance of Asking Questions

The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask.

Peter Drucker

This quote highlights the value of inquisitive leadership in the contemporary business world. Asking questions is a powerful leadership tool that can drive team engagement, productivity, and innovation. By asking thought-provoking questions rather than making decisions for their teams, enterprise leaders empower employees to take ownership of their work while collaborating more effectively and confidently navigating the ever-changing business landscape. Moreover, when setbacks occur, embracing a learning mindset and asking growth-oriented questions helps teams to learn from their experiences, improve their performance, and ultimately achieve better outcomes in the future.

When leaders ask insightful questions, they:

• Encourage each team member to think critically and creatively, spurring innovation and problem-solving.

• Promote a culture of open communication and collaboration, fostering a sense of psychological safety and trust within the team.

• Demonstrate humility and openness to learning from their employees, enhancing their leadership credibility.

Embracing a Learning Mindset During Setbacks

When things don’t go as planned, leaders can use the power of questioning to help their teams learn from setbacks and drive improvement. By asking, “What can we learn from that?” leaders create an environment where team members reflect on their experiences, identify lessons learned, and use those insights to develop better outcomes in the future. Here are some ways leaders can foster a learning mindset during challenging situations:

• Normalize failure: Acknowledge that setbacks and failures are an inherent part of growth and innovation, and encourage team members to view them as learning opportunities.

• Encourage reflection: Facilitate discussions that enable team members to reflect on their experiences, identify root causes, and determine how to prevent similar issues in the future.

• Ask growth-oriented questions: In addition to asking, “What can we learn from that?” use questions like “How can we improve?” and “What would we do differently next time?” to promote a growth mindset and continuous improvement.

• Recognize and celebrate learning: Acknowledge and celebrate the lessons learned from setbacks, reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and improvement within the organization.

As the expectations for the C-suite continue to evolve, embracing inquisitive leadership is essential for executives who want to excel in their roles and lead their organizations to success. By honing their ability to ask insightful questions, leaders can cultivate an environment that values learning, collaboration, and innovation, equipping their teams to overcome the myriad challenges that characterize today’s business landscape. Ultimately, this leadership approach benefits individual team members and the organization as a whole and contributes to building a more resilient and adaptive business ecosystem that can thrive amid uncertainty and change.