BY LIZA WORTHINGTON 
What makes a good leader? A good leader possesses the ability to create a vision and the drive to realize that vision. But how do you achieve that vision when there are so many variables to consider in the business environment (i.e. risks, stakeholders, new technologies, regulatory requirements, social and economical trends, etc.)?
Influential leaders are skillful at asking questions to gather information about the business environment and to make decisions. Executive coach Gary Cohen identifies four questioning styles through role-playing i.e. depending on the situation, a leader may choose to play one of the following roles:
1) “Professor” as a means to understand a situation e.g. “what are your goals?” “What are some options?”
2) “Judge” as a means to analyze options e.g. “what is the biggest risk?” “What is the greatest possible success?”
3) “Innovator” as a means to explore new directions e.g. “what would you do if time and resources are unlimited?” “What does your gut tell you to do?”
4) “Director” as a means to assess how to proceed and take action e.g. “what needs to happen?” “When is this due?”
In a similar manner, a leader could also apply the deBono six thinking hats approach as a means to formulate questions. This involves mentally wearing and switching “hats” as you focus on a problem, consider options, and make decisions:
1) Wear the white hat to identify facts e.g. “by how much did revenue fall this year?” and “what was last year’s sales mix?”
2) Wear the yellow hat to identify positives e.g. “what are the benefits of this option?”
3) Wear the black hat for judgment e.g. “what will go wrong if the company implements this option?”
4) Wear the red hat to assess emotions e.g. “how do you feel about this option?” or “how will our customers react?”
5) Wear the green hat to encourage creativity e.g. “how can we do this differently?”
6) Wear the blue hat to manage the thinking process e.g. “how can we do this better?”
(http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php)
What are your experiences with leading through questioning? Is this an effective way to lead? What are the setbacks of asking too many questions?
What makes a good leader? A good leader possesses the ability to create a vision and the drive to realize that vision. But how do you achieve that vision when there are so many variables to consider in the business environment (i.e. risks, stakeholders, new technologies, regulatory requirements, social and economical trends, etc.)?
Influential leaders are skillful at asking questions to gather information about the business environment and to make decisions. Executive coach Gary Cohen identifies four questioning styles through role-playing i.e. depending on the situation, a leader may choose to play one of the following roles:
1) “Professor” as a means to understand a situation e.g. “what are your goals?” “What are some options?”
2) “Judge” as a means to analyze options e.g. “what is the biggest risk?” “What is the greatest possible success?”
3) “Innovator” as a means to explore new directions e.g. “what would you do if time and resources are unlimited?” “What does your gut tell you to do?”
4) “Director” as a means to assess how to proceed and take action e.g. “what needs to happen?” “When is this due?”
In a similar manner, a leader could also apply the deBono six thinking hats approach as a means to formulate questions. This involves mentally wearing and switching “hats” as you focus on a problem, consider options, and make decisions:
1) Wear the white hat to identify facts e.g. “by how much did revenue fall this year?” and “what was last year’s sales mix?”
2) Wear the yellow hat to identify positives e.g. “what are the benefits of this option?”
3) Wear the black hat for judgment e.g. “what will go wrong if the company implements this option?”
4) Wear the red hat to assess emotions e.g. “how do you feel about this option?” or “how will our customers react?”
5) Wear the green hat to encourage creativity e.g. “how can we do this differently?”
6) Wear the blue hat to manage the thinking process e.g. “how can we do this better?”
(http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php)
What are your experiences with leading through questioning? Is this an effective way to lead? What are the setbacks of asking too many questions?
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