Why should anyone want to be led by you?

Have you ever experienced this? A meeting or workshop drags on like thick porridge. The leader or moderator does their best, but everything just trickles along. The first participants start to get bored—until suddenly, out of nowhere, someone asks an unexpected question. It shakes up the entire group. The question goes deep and beyond the obvious. Suddenly, everyone is fully alert. That one question transforms the entire meeting. A monologue turns into a dialogue. One question leads to more, and the answers open up completely new perspectives and insights for those present.

Questions are the heart of human communication, insight, and development. They have the unique ability to stimulate thinking, spark doubt, and foster deeper insights. While answers are often seen as the goal of learning, it is questions that guide us along the way. They are the key to curiosity, diverse perspectives, and productivity.

In a time when many people simply broadcast their opinions and beliefs without truly listening to or understanding the other side, questions are more important than ever.

Questions not only foster individual growth, but also strengthen interpersonal relationships. In psychology, the power of open-ended questions is often emphasized, as they encourage the other person to share their thoughts and feelings. Instead of allowing simple yes-or-no answers, these questions enable a dialogue that fosters empathy and understanding.

But what really matters is that we don’t just ask random questions. A question that is meant to create impact must be as sharp as a sword.

Here’s an example:

Why should anyone want to be led by you?

This question gets straight to the point. Leadership is not about holding a position or carrying a title. It’s about taking responsibility for people and their development. What are you doing to live up to that responsibility?

The importance of how a question is phrased can also be seen in the difference between advice and opinion. When you ask someone for their opinion, the answer is shaped by personal preferences and experiences—by what the person likes and believes.

Advice, on the other hand, requires putting yourself in the other person’s perspective and seeking a solution based on empathy. Advice is shaped more by expertise and understanding—and less by personal preferences.

On top of that, advice has an emotional side effect:

They strengthen relationships. Because when someone is asked for advice, they feel valued—not only as an expert, but also as a person.

That’s real empowerment and a path to more productive collaboration.

Dieser Beitrag wurde von Wolfgang Jenewein am 05.05.2025 auf LinkedIn veröffentlicht. Zum Original-Beitrag