Questions, Right Thing Every Time and Leadership

Lee talks about the importance of asking the right questions as a leader and the impact it has on coaching and developing people. He emphasises that effective leadership is not just about managing tasks or providing answers, but about fostering thought and reflection in others. Horton discusses the need to balance managing, leading, and coaching, highlighting that change should be an everyday part of business rather than a one-off project. He advocates for a humann centered approach to improvement, where continuous growth and respect for individuals are paramount. By connecting on a personal level and engaging teams in meaningful conversations, leaders can inspire a highly engaged workforce dedicated to making incremental improvements every day.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Coaching Through Questions: Asking questions is a powerful tool for coaching, but the true success lies in generating thought and reflection in the individuals being asked, rather than simply obtaining answers.

2. Situational Leadership: Effective leadership requires a balance of managing tasks, leading people, and coaching gaps. The approach should be tailored to the specific situation and the needs of the individuals involved.

3. Continuous Improvement: Change should be integrated into daily operations rather than treated as a one-off project. Engaging employees in continuous improvement fosters a culture where everyone contributes to enhancing processes and outcomes.

4. Respect for People: Emphasising respect for individuals and their contributions is crucial. A highly engaged organisation thrives on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improvement.

5. Holistic Engagement: To achieve organisational success, it is essential to engage employees' heads (through thought-provoking questions), hearts (by inspiring them towards a common goal), and hands (by involving them in meaningful work).

BEST MOMENTS

"The success of asking a question is not in receiving an answer, but in generating thoughts in the people that we've asked the question of."

"Change needs to be, or should be, an everyday business as usual part of every single role because those who do the work know most about it."

"If we truly embraced those two principles, joined them together and made them business as usual for everybody, then everybody will be working to do the right thing at the right time every single time."

"It's about improving that task at hand as well in a collaborative way."

"Change and leadership is not black and white because not every person is the same."

HOST BIO

You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material.

Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker.