A key to leadership is the transformation that occurs when we see old things in new ways. Linear thinking is toxic to creative thinking. It is figuring out and ordering one’s actions in the swirl of a chaotic world. It is creating one’s own limitations.

There are two skills that are a must for effective leadership—proactive listening and asking great questions. Maybe it would be useful to give you some examples of not-so-great questions.

Here are a few and I am sure you can identify others:
• Any question that can be answered with one word, i.e. yes, no, maybe, right, wrong, up, down and the beat goes on.
• Any question that elicits an answer that you already know you want.
• Any question that is a threat to the other person.
• Any question that draws a comparison to another person.

Great questions require a person to stop and think. They often times have a person share their feelings about the subject along with pertinent facts. There is no judgment being made in a great question. The great questions are essential so we can use our other skill—proactive listening.

Proactive listening is an intention to get the other person’s point of view. It allows you to get that from what is said, and what is not said. If we can consider that “everything is a communication” it is not just words that make the communication. It is body language, voice inflections, various mannerisms and gestures.

Using our questions we can work our way through responses until we get what is authentic in their communication. It is not that the other person intends to deceive. Speaking to the leader is or can be a little threatening. Questions without judgment open up straight speaking. You won’t get what you need if you have a pre-determined agenda. If you are looking for agreement rather than their point of view you are manipulating rather than seeing what’s so for them.