Questions to Ask When Developing Leaders
Maxwell Leadership Podcast
Deep Dive
What keeps you in the game?
This question helps leaders understand what motivates their team members. By knowing what keeps each person engaged, leaders can tailor their approach to better support and motivate them. For example, someone might stay for the relationships, while another might stay for the financial rewards.
What is your number one strength?
Identifying an individual's top strength is crucial for leadership development. Leaders should focus on enhancing their strengths rather than working on weaknesses. Knowing a person's strengths allows leaders to position them in roles where they can excel and maximize their potential.
How can we work better together?
This question fosters better teamwork by encouraging open communication and mutual understanding. It allows team members to share their needs and expectations, leading to more effective collaboration. For example, one team member might need more clarity from their leader, while another might need more autonomy.
What wears you out?
Understanding what drains a person's energy is essential for maintaining their emotional well-being. Leaders can use this information to help team members manage their workload and avoid burnout. For example, if someone finds long hours of writing exhausting, the leader might balance their tasks with other activities.
What have you learned recently?
This question helps leaders assess an individual's growth and learning. It encourages continuous improvement and ensures that team members are actively developing their skills. Leaders can use this information to provide additional learning resources or opportunities for further development.
What's the best resource I can give you to help you succeed?
Identifying the right resources is key to supporting a team member's success. Leaders should ask this question to understand what tools, training, or support their team members need to excel. For example, a team member might need a specific software, a mentor, or access to a particular course.
Who do you know that I should know?
This networking question can lead to valuable connections and opportunities. Leaders can use this information to expand their network and bring in new perspectives or expertise. For example, a team member might know a potential client or a mentor who could benefit the organization.
What do I need to know?
This question promotes humility and open-mindedness in leaders. By asking what they need to know, leaders demonstrate that they are willing to learn and value the input of their team. It also helps gather diverse perspectives, making decision-making more effective.
What did you hear?
This question ensures that communication is clear and understood. It allows leaders to confirm that their message was received as intended and provides an opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings. It also helps in shaping the way team members think and align with the leader's vision.
What am I missing?
This question encourages layered learning and continuous improvement. It allows leaders to gather feedback on their direction and identify any gaps or overlooked aspects. It also helps team members take ownership of the direction by giving them a chance to contribute their insights.
- Understanding individual motivations is crucial for effective leadership.
- Developing leaders involves focusing on strengths, not weaknesses.
- Teamwork improvement requires open communication and collaboration.
Shownotes Transcript