Ten Questions that create better teams

John C. Maxwell says that influence comes through inquiry. What does that mean? It means ask good questions, get good answers, and you gain more influence in your leadership. Asking questions tells you what you seek to know and also shows the team around you that you’re engaged, interested and desiring to grow with them.

Here’s the truth, the wisest leaders display an unquenchable curiosity that motivates them to examine themselves, to discover what drives their people, and to investigate their world.

In his book "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions", John addresses the hard questions leaders encounter, the reflective questions they should ask themselves, and the best questions they should ask their team.

For now, I am going to share some of the best questions you can ask to build a highly connected, growing team. These are questions John Maxwell recommend you take time to discuss with your direct reports. Take your whole team or the individuals on your team out to lunch or coffee once a month and pick their brains on these questions. You’ll be surprised at how much your conversations and insight will improve by asking just a few simple, direct questions and showing them you’re interested.

John says it this way; “Asking questions is like lowering a bucket into a well; it enables you to draw out value that otherwise remains hidden and out of reach.”

10 questions that build better teams:

1.In your opinion, what are the main reasons that prevent leaders from asking questions?

2.In the past year, how have you invested in your personal growth? What areas of your personal growth are you most interested in developing? Any specific plans you have to reach your goals?

3.What are some practical ways that we as a team could practice better listening skills? What’s missing? What do we do well?

4.How many hours a week are you sleeping or resting typically? On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 as completely exhausted and 10 as fully energized, where would you say you are today and on average? How would you rate your current level of energy? What’s energizing you right now in your life and work? What’s missing that would energize you?

5.Whose leadership has had the greatest positive influence on your life? What made their influence so impactful?

6.What issues or causes are you passionate about?

7.What motivates you? What kind of incentives motivate you to work harder? Flexibility in your schedule? Making more money? Acquiring more responsibility? What would be your top two motivators? What do you do to self-motivate?

8.If you were “in charge” how would you address leadership decisions made in our organization that you don’t agree with or when you encounter a conflict?

9.If it’s true that people leave their bosses, not their jobs, what can leaders do to retain their talented employees and keep them from wanting to leave?

10.What experiences, relationships and environments would help you most as you develop in your leadership? What would provide you the most support?

It will only take you a few minutes to reach out and make a connection. You’ll be showing your enthusiasm for your team’s well being and creating trust with them, too.

As John says, “If you are a leader, the true measure of your success is not getting people to work. It’s not getting people to work hard. It is getting people to work hard together. That takes commitment.”

Commit now to developing your team members and developing strong, healthy relationships that show them you’re authentically engaged with their thoughts and values. You’ll see their trust in you grow and their enthusiasm about their work with the team flourish.