April is for Asking!

One of our core beliefs is that extraordinary leadership involves more asking than telling. Something we frequently remind people is that questions open the mind while answers close the mind.

Open minded leaders are flourishing in the 21st century because their curiosity gives them greater perspective. Here are a few fun quotes on questions:

The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life. – Confucius

How do you feel about asking questions?

We live in the world our questions create. – David Cooperrider

Are you happy in your world? What new questions need to be asked?

Look at questions as keys on a key ring. Questions unlock doors. The bigger your key ring and the more keys you have, the more doors you can unlock. – John C. Maxwell

How can you increase the size of your keyring (your question repertoire?)

Open-minded people seek to learn by asking questions; they realize that what they know is little in relation to what there is to know and recognize that they might be wrong. Closed-minded people always tell you what they know, even if they know hardly anything about the subject being discussed. They are typically made uncomfortable by being around those who know a lot more about a subject, unlike open-minded people who are thrilled by such company. – Ray Dalio

Which type of person do you want to be? How are you currently showing up in the world?

Change the questions you ask, the way you view the issue will be transformed and innovation will start! – Isaac You

How can you intentionally change the questions you are asking?

Questions focus our thinking. Ask empowering questions like: What’s good about this? What’s not perfect about it yet? What am I going to do next time? How can I do this and have fun doing it? – Charles Connolly

Do you need more focus? What questions are you asking?