As a leader, you can focus on one powerful word to build a business culture that delivers creative and innovative ideas that drive success. This powerful word is “how.” As you interact with your team in one-to-one or group meetings, resist any urge you have that make assumptions about what someone is thinking or to dismiss an idea because “it’s been done before.” Instead, stop and consider questions that start with the word “how” to dig in deeper to uncover any possible opportunity.
For example, someone brings up an idea for arching new customers. You might ask “How do you believe we should do that?,” or “How do you believe tis approach would deliver results?,” or “Considering a campaign we did in the past (describe that), how will we get different or better results.”
A team member brings you a problem because they are used to you solving their problems, so you ask “How do you want to handle this?,” or “How are you going to deal with this problem?”
You start a performance review meeting with, “How can I make you more successful in your role here?”
The point is that it is far too easy to get on automatic pilot in meetings, to let your assumptions prevail when listening to ideas, and leave so much rich context left unsaid for the sake of expediency. Question more deeply – with “how” or other types of questions that dig in to what your team is thinking – and you will not only discover more creative and innovative solutions, but you will engage your team in a culture they desire, appreciate, and they talk about to attract the best talent.
