The Most Underrated Leadership Skill:  Asking the Right Questions

If you’re leading a team, running a business, or coaching others to higher performance, there’s one underrated skill that will set you apart:

Asking better questions.

Not just any questions. The kind that creates space, shift energy, and unlock insight. The kind that makes people pause and think—not because they’re being interrogated, but because someone genuinely cares about their perspective.

In my work with entrepreneurs, executives, and high-performing teams, I’ve noticed a consistent theme:
The leaders who get the most engagement and the best results don’t always have the best answers…

They have the best questions.

3 Reasons Why Questions Work So Well

1. They engage the brain.

When you ask someone a thoughtful question, it kicks their brain into problem-solving mode. They’re no longer passively receiving information—they’re actively participating in it.

Think about it. If I tell you, “We need to innovate,” you might nod.
But if I ask, “What would innovation look like for us this quarter?”
Now your brain kicks into gear. 

2. They build trust.

Questions—real ones, not just check-the-box questions—send a powerful message:
“Your voice matters.”
When people feel heard, they lean in. They collaborate. They go the extra mile—not because they were told to, but because they want to.

3. They invite ownership.

If you’re always giving answers, your team will always come to you for them.
But when you start asking, “What do you think would work here?” you’re handing them the steering wheel. You’re creating leaders, not just task-completers. 

Telling vs. Asking: A Quick Comparison

Here’s a simple way to see the shift in action:

Subtle? Yes.
Powerful? Absolutely.

Here are four categories of questions I often use with clients and teams: