To ask or not to ask? How is the question

October 10, 2014 by Berger Leadership Blog

by: Dan Berger

As leaders, we know it’s important to ask questions, and to ask them well. “Why did you think that was a good idea?!” is a great way to go only if you don’t want a constructive answer. But “How could we have made this idea work?” That starts a conversation.

Yahoo! Small Business Advisor recommends other good questions to ask employees:

1. Do you have everything you need?

2. What can be improved?

3. How am I doing?

4. What’s keeping you up at night?

Good questions should foster healthy conversations and inspire growth. Not leave an employee feeling embittered or hurt. Entrepreneur offers other good questions to start a healthy conversation with employees: “What’s something you’d like to get better at next month?” or “What roadblocks or breakdowns have frustrated you this month?”