I love a great question! When we may be "stuck" in a situation, asking for questions from a variety of people can help raise thoughts that have not previously been considered. Whether in your personal life or your school setting, question posing is helpful. Maxwell first examines how to use questions to best advantage. Then he used social media to gather 70 questions asked by others on topics from "how do you motivate an unmotivated person" to "how would you work with a leader who has no vision?"
He stresses that leaders need to ask questions of themselves. For example, are you investing in yourself as a leader or are you a lid keeping growth shut down? Are you still learning and growing? If not, neither is your organization. Are you genuinely interested in other people? Do you see more than others see? Do you see the big picture? This is not about intelligence, but about comprehension. Do you know more and before others? Do you get the head start and start on the journey before the normal person? But then do you choose to walk amongst your people and slow down so they can keep up? True leaders do not need to win a race, but take their followers with them. How do you resolve conflict and lead challenging people? What is the most effective daily habit a good leader should develop?
Do you do what you love and love what you do? "If you don’t love what you do, you won’t have the passion, and without passion you don’t have the energy to continually enjoy your people and your work.” The key to leadership is compassion and humility. Provide incremental challenges to improve; most people go one level below their capabilities. Treat people as they could be with higher expectations. Good questions inform, but great questions transform. I especially take to heart the question that asks, "What are we doing to develop new leaders?"
Maxwell closes with "I want to make a difference with people who want to make a difference at a time when it makes a difference.”
What about you?
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