A friend of mine, who knows I interview top leadership experts from around the world, asked, “Had any great interviews lately?”
I told him about a call from Buenos Aires and a conversation with Claudio Fernández-Aráoz.
I told him the title of Claudio’s recent book “It’s Not the How or the What but the Who.”
I was ready to share what I learned from one of the world’s top talent experts. But he didn’t ask and I didn’t say.
Any fool can ask the first question; wise leaders ask the second.
Missed:
Perhaps he thought he already understood the importance of getting the right people on the team. Maybe he was too busy or didn’t know how to ask the second question.
I feel sad, not just for him but for me.
How many times have I moved forward in blissful ignorance because I didn’t adopt the second-question habit?
You stood face to face with pivotal opportunities and missed them because you didn’t ask the second question.
5 reasons we stop with first questions:
- Image protection. We don’t want to look like we have something to learn.
- Time pressure. We don’t have time to gain wisdom.
- Curiosity deficit. We just aren’t curious.
- Respect shortage. The person talking is “below” us. They’re younger, less successful, or less experienced.
- Self importance. Big headitis destroys leaders.
No one makes you wise.
Second questions:
- What are you learning? — How are you changing because of what you’re learning?
- What are you doing? — What’s important to you about that?
- What problems are you solving? — How are you solving them?
- What frustrations are you feeling? — How are you solving your frustrations?
- What’s working for you? — What have you done to produce success?
What heights might you reach if you adopt the second-question habit?
What second questions elevate leaders?
How can leaders develop the second-question habit?
Want to elevate your leadership? Claudio Fernández-Aráoz is speaking at the World Business Forum in NYC on Oct. 7-8. Use the discount code: LEADERFRK for a $200 discount on registration.