The Leaders Playbook: Ask beautiful questions

“Always a beautiful answer

Who asks a more beautiful question.”

-E.E. Cummings

Leadership is about influencing others to achieve the desired end-state and outcomes you are driving towards. It is not easy or simple work. It can be gritty, emotional, and challenging. It involves as much EQ as it does IQ.

And, it all starts with a question.

A key element of leadership is understanding the situation and the various elements which are driving the various equities within a situation. 

Let’s drive to ask beautiful questions in our lives. Pause, reflect, consider what specifically it is we are solving for, then and only then ask your first and essential question.

I enjoyed reading “A more beautiful question; the power of inquiry to start breakthrough ideas” by Warren Berger. 

Lead well.

The Author is currently serving as an active-duty military officer. Any comments or recommendations on this post or on this site are my personal views. They do not represent the position of any branch of the United States Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

The Leaders Playbook: Clear, concise, correct communications

“Communications: the imparting or exchanging of information or news.”

“It does not matter what you say, it only matters what people hear and see.”

                                                Frank Luntz from “Words that Work

Frank Luntz got this quote mostly right.  I have always inserted the words “and feel” to this quote.

As human beings, we rely on communications to connect with each other.  It comes in many forms but in the end, it’s about connecting at a deep enough level to engender trust and confidence in each other and to align our efforts against an issue, problem, or opportunity.  It is not a one-way flow of information.  That’s transmitting.

In my opinion, perhaps the most important skill a leader must have is the ability to clearly and effectively communicate at multiple levels.  Clear, concise, correct, and meaningful communications is something that is absolutely critical to being able to lead people successfully – and we all need to work at it. 

Sound communication is a perishable skill.  I know I will always strive to improve my verbal communications, my written communications (why I write), my non-verbal communications, and my listening skills. 

Great communicators listen well, and pass information which informs, inspires, and connects people and teams to do incredible things together.  So, commit today to do some thinking about how you are going to improve as a communicator.

The Author is currently serving as an active-duty military officer. Any comments or recommendations on this post or on this site are solely my personal views and do not represent the position of any branch of the United States Government.