There’s a lot of pressure on leaders these days…so much change, so many demands, so much uncertainty. And often, an expectation that the leader will have all the answers.

But the truth is that it’s more important for a leader to ask the right questions than to have all the answers. It helps ensure that you uncover all the challenges your team is facing and that you explore all possible solutions to those challenges.

Asking questions helps to avoid judgment by establishing a learning climate within the organization. Questions keep you focused on the vision and the big picture, which is where the leader’s attention should be.

When leaders ask questions, it encourages team members to take ownership for solving problems and to have a role in decision-making. Of course, it’s important to ask the right questions if you want to lead your team to success.

Here are 5 key questions every leader should ask:

What’s the current situation? – Asking this question at the outset of a project, the beginning of a meeting or when a challenge presents itself is an essential first step, Asking this question avoids making assumptions that could lead your team down the wrong path and ensures that everyone enters the process with the same understanding.

What’s next? – This question invites team members to offer options for next steps and provide clues about the preferences and biases that may lead to conflict or limit possible solutions.

What if? – By asking “what if,” you encourage the team to explore possible choices and identify challenges or barriers that might get in the way of success. It also allows you to offer ideas that the team may not have considered without expressing judgment or appearing too directive.

What do we need? – As the leader you are responsible for making sure that the team has the tools and resources necessary to complete the job and meet the goal. Asking this question demonstrates that you are concerned about the team and encourages the team to be creative and resourceful in solving problems and identifying solutions.

What else? – This question offers the team another chance to explore opportunities and options and to make certain that they have fully examined the situation that they are facing. It also signals that as a leader you remain open to new thoughts and additional input.

When you ask these questions as a leader, you create a climate of inclusion, openness, trust and learning that sets the stage for your team and your business.

You don’t need to have all the answers. Instead, ask questions…the right questions…and watch your team achieve amazing results.

Blessings,

Chris

Are you feeling healthy? Not just physically healthy, but mentally healthy too?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s a good time to shine a light on a topic that isn’t always front and center. Even though an estimated one in four Americans suffer from a mental condition worth diagnosing, there is still considerable stigma surrounding mental illness.

And that means we don’t talk mental health as much as we should.

Conversations about maintaining our physical health are everywhere. You don’t have to go far to find tips about diet, exercise, and healthy habits. It is a lot harder to find the same kind of advice about maintaining mental wellness.

The stigma surrounding mental health creates a silence that can contribute to a delay in asking for help or reluctance to step in to offer support. One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the mental health issue is the escalating rate of suicide.

Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the U.S..  In 2020, 45,979 Americans died by suicide and there were an estimated 1.2 million suicide attempts.

As a business owner, it’s essential for you to pay as much attention to your mental health as you do to your physical well-being. The same goes for your team. It’s just good business sense.

Here are five things you can do (and urge your team to do) to help maintain your mental wellness.

• Stay connected – Good relationships are important to mental and emotional wellness. Relationships create the opportunity to give and receive emotional support and overcome the isolation that can contribute to depression
• Stay mindful – Paying attention to your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you can keep you grounded in the present, rather than regretting the past or worrying about the future.
• Stay active – In addition to supporting your physical health, being active can improve your mental well-being. Physical activity can trigger chemical changes in your brain, releasing neurotransmitters that contribute to creating and maintaining a positive mood.
• Stay curious – Keeping your mind actively engaged, particularly if it focuses on learning new skills can boost your self-confidence and renew your sense of purpose. It can also keep you connected to other people who are also engaged in the learning activity.
• Stay grateful – Engaging in a daily practice of gratitude provides a host of benefits – physical, emotional, and social. Physical health benefits include boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure and better sleep. Among the emotional benefits are increased optimism, greater experience of joy and happiness, and deeper compassion for others.

Making these five things as important a part of your daily routine as exercise, proper diet and drinking enough water will help you to stay as mentally healthy as you can be.

If you find yourself struggling to maintain these mental health habits, consider reaching out for help. Don’t let stigma keep you silent. And if you see someone else who may be having difficulty, reach out to offer support.

Let’s keep the conversation about mental health going year-round, not just during the month of May. It could save lives.

Blessings,

Chris

P.S. Because we care about you, we are offering a special FREE webinar next week called “Talk Saves Lives.” Click here to reserve your spot.