The Importance of Questions vs. Statements in Leadership

Auditing the ratio of questions to statements in leadership can significantly improve communication and engagement. Research shows that having more complex and nuanced conversations about charged issues requires dialing up inquiry relative to advocacy. This approach not only leads to breaking new ground in conversations but also helps in avoiding division. An example of this is observed in a case where a group of young CEOs with a disproportionate number of statements versus questions had a negative impact on engagement, but improvements were seen as they increased their use of questions.