In my years as a leader and now as a leadership coach, I've learned that the stress leaders experience is compounded by the belief that they should always have the answer. And with time, the people around them come to believe it as well. 

I've seen leaders cringe when someone comes to them with a question and they can't immediately answer.

Why do we get ourselves in such a position?

If we truly wish to create empowered and confident teams, it behooves us to shift our own expectations that have put us in this position.

This requires us to slow down, get present and shift from having all the answers to generating thought (and action) provoking questions.

Here are some tips to get started.

1. Prepare the Team

If you've always been the kind of leader that team members look to for answers, share with them ahead of time your change of focus and your reasoning. 

For example, you may share that you want to signal a new level of trust; want to build team members' confidence; or don't want to impede progress on projects. 

Whatever the reason, be clear and honest. Then share what this new approach will look and feel like. 

Most likely it will involve you generating questions rather than providing answers.

2. Prepare Yourself

If your habit is to have the answers, making the shift to generate questions may initially feel awkward and inefficient.  

During the habit-forming period, you'll have to remind yourself more than once to pause before automatically responding with an answer. 

Remember that habits take up to 30 days to take hold.  Be patient with yourself and also persistent in order to lock in the new habit.

3. Prepare a few basic questions

To help with this transition, prepare a few basic questions to jumpstart the process. 

Here are a few:

What options have you/we considered?

What have you/we tried?

What are you/we trying to accomplish? 

What has worked in the past? 

How can I help?  

Making the shift from answer dispenser to thought provoker is a win for everyone. You reduce pressure on yourself and you empower and build the confidence of your team. The result - a strong team able to serve clients well.

_______________________

Passionate Leadership
is who you're being as you're leading.

About the Author

Gayle Ely is a Leadership Coach, Trainer and Facilitator and founder of Total Life Leadership. At Total Life Leadership, we partner with purpose-driven non-profit leaders and service entrepreneurs to help them answer the question “How Do I Become a Better Leader?”

Using The Six Pillars of Passionate Leadership, we equip leaders to be the best they can be.  The result is a passionate leader whose team and organization are operating for maximum impact.

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