Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment. Effective leadership coaching can happen on the dance floor of conversation.
"Leadership is about allowing others the chance to flourish, and you do that by asking questions," says Gary Cohen in his new book: Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions
Would you rather be asked for your input or told what to do?
Good questions generate thought, focus and action from the listener. They also convey respect. When we tell our coworkers how to do their jobs, we are essentially limiting their options and stifling their initiative. We're not leading.
Yet, to develop and maintain accountable coworkers, you must trust them and they must trust you. As your coworkers demonstrate progress and initiative, provide them with progressively more challenging work and responsibilities.
If you groom leaders at all levels of your organization, work will get done well and on time. Rather than micromanaging, spend your time on mentoring and coaching team leaders while asking yourself and them tough questions. Questions can help us to see ourselves, coworkers and organizations more clearly.
Just Ask Leadership outlines not only specific questions to ask in certain contexts, but also how to implement question-based leadership as a whole. This "how to" book helps the reader learn to build a culture of accountability....which can lead to a leadership brand of personal responsibility and commitment.
