Executive Coaxhing Tip: Socratic Method

I have studied at the Harvard Business School, Covey Leadership Institute, Disney Leadership Institute, and Aspen Institute as a Crown Fellow. All my instructors used the Socratic Method in teaching leadership. They asked plenty of questions, but they didn’t specifically teach the value of question-based leadership.

When teachers use the Socratic Method, they have a clear learning objective. And they usually know the answer in advance. In question-based leadership, leaders operate from a position of not-knowing. It’s an important distinction. The more leaders release their grasp on answers and prepare to learn from their coworkers, the more their coworkers will be aligned, engaged, and accountable.