Ask…

Leaders do not give answers to teammates. Leaders do not give answers to other leaders. Leaders do not give answers to people in power. Leaders do not give answers when people demand them. Leaders do not give answers, oftentimes, when they know they possess them. Funny, huh.

Leaders give gifts. Leaders give their team, their teammates, their peers, and those in power over them, one of the greatest gifts missing in most of corporate America. You see, great leaders answer questions with questions. They give those around them a great gift in the process. What gift? I’m so glad you asked…

A gift you mostly need to give to you and yours, my friend. BTL leaders give the gift of answering questions with questions because they’ve come to believe in those around them. They “return to sender,” if you will. They cause thinking. They cause the questioner to think about their own question. They make them go deeper and get to the real question, the real root, the real problem they are looking to another to solve.

Today, we have an epidemic of answers. We have a culture of leaders who think they have the answer. They believe it’s their role to respond and give answers to all with questions. What kinda insanity is that? Have we regressed back to the dark ages? Are we lining up at the Abbey waiting for some pontification from on high? Are we gathering in assembly to wait for some grant from our King? Are we incapable of navigating through the noise and clangor of the everyday? Are you still with me?

Leaders give gifts.

And the greatest gift a leader can give is the gift of belief. Do not miss this. This could be huge. Remember, nothing screams “I believe in Y.O.U.” more than returning their question with a better question of your own. Make them think. Make them reach. Make them figure it out. They will. And they will own it. Your system will expand exponentially. You think you have to answer. Funny, all you had to do was ask…