Updated from May 11, 2015 post
Budgeting and planning season continues at the WCA, and as it does a key leadership principle has been driven home to me yet again.
If you want game-changing leadership results, you need to frame game-changing leadership questions.
Each idea our team has put on the table has been improved through the relentless asking of great questions.
Earlier this year that principle was unpacked masterfully by Bill Hybels during a leadership coaching session in Brazil.
A keen young church leader had asked Bill, “How can I get more people to join my ministry program?”
As I wrote about in this earlier post, the result was a game-changing turn of events.
Drawing on 40 years of leadership experience and expertise, Hybels encouraged this young leader and said, “To really help you out, I’d like to re-frame your question. Let’s ask instead, ‘What kind of leader do people want to follow?’ Because if you can nail that question, it doesn’t matter what kind of program you’re leading; people will want to join in.”
1. People want to follow a leader with a Compelling Vision
“If you ask people to follow you, what’s the first question they’re going to ask? ‘Where are we going?!’
The first characteristic of a leader people want to follow is a clear, compelling vision.”
2. People want to follow a leader with Inspiring Passion
“If you’re not excited about the thing you’re leading, no one else is going to be excited. People want to follow someone who can fire them up out of a genuine, inspiring passion..”
3. People want to follow a leader who loves them
“It’s true.
The Gallup organization did some fascinating research that showed people are most loyal to a leader whom they know cares deeply for them.
Want people to follow you? Let them know how much you care about them.”
Getting the game-changing question defined was an ‘a-ha’ moment for this young leader.
Whatever challenge you’re facing, here’s how you can apply this in your setting.
1. Huddle up with your team and clearly define the challenge. Bill Hybels often says, “Facts are your friends”. Don’t be fuzzy. Name the problem.
2. Challenge your team to wrestle with the real question that needs to be addressed. Ask them, “What’s the game-changing question we need to go after?”
3. Don’t settle for the first answer. Keep digging until you get that “a-ha” moment.
Because game-changing leadership results always begin by nailing the game-changing leadership question.
What challenge are you facing that requires a game-changing question?
