Executive Coaching and Business Coaching Image

"While I honestly wasn't conscious of it, Gary's notion of 'leading by asking' nicely captures my own style. This approach creates a more collegial attitude, it opens dialogue and shows respect for those who are closer to and have responsibility for the issues. In many cases it is also appropriate because each generation seems to be smarter than the last. As a tool, Gary's book can raise everyone's awareness of the social and intellectual power of asking rather than telling."

Captain James A. Symonds USS Ronald Reagan - Nimitz
class aircraft carrier.

Problem Solving Skills

Why Shouldn't I Try To Solve Everyone's Problems?

People often walk into my office with a problem.

If I am in a good place, I will ask many questions and help them solve their own problem, so they can feel good about themselves.

If I am in a bad place (low self-esteem, for example), I will ask many different questions that would help me solve the problem for them, so I can feel good about myself. The nature of the questions change because the same questions that would help me solve the problem may be very different from the questions that they would need to hear.

Read the article that elaborates on the message shared above and in this cartoon.