↗️ Does this make sense?
🕑 1 min Read
This week, we explore the impact of two different questions a leader might ask after sharing or explaining something.
❌ “Does this make sense?“
While this closed question may seem natural, it’s not as effective as it appears. It biases others to respond with ‘yes’ rather than ‘no’. It perpetuates the power distance between the leader and team members. After all, saying ‘no’ could feel like slapping your Manager in the face. To avoid confrontation, a team member might say ‘yes’ even if nothing makes sense to them.
✅ “What’s your take?“
This open-ended question is very different. It encourages collaboration, sparking curiosity, interest, and a sense of partnership. Ideally, it narrows the power distance by taking thoughts, concerns, and ideas seriously. When team members know their opinions and insights are valued, they’re more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed.
The way we phrase our questions makes a world of difference!
Maik
Maik Frank
Maik is a PCC Executive Coach and the founder of IntelliCoach.com. He has coached and trained over 400 People Leaders to improve their communication skills and offers guaranteed measurable growth to his clients. He also hosts the Coaching Leader Podcast.
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