We’ve all been there—pressed for time, trying to keep the wheels turning—when a team member approaches with a problem. Our instinct? Solve it.
Tell them what to do, give them the answer, and move on.
But here’s the brutal truth: every time you give the answer, you’re taking away the opportunity for someone else to think. You’re training your people to wait instead of lead. And in the process, you’re bottlenecking your organisation’s growth.
A Harvard Business Review study found that leaders who frequently offer solutions rather than asking questions reduce team innovation by up to 33%—yet most think they’re being helpful.
True leadership is about building capability—not compliance. And capability starts with curiosity.
The Problem with Always Having the Answer
When leaders solve too much, they create dependency. Innovation stalls. Accountability weakens. Confidence fades. What starts as helpfulness turns into organisational paralysis.
But there’s a better way—ask the right question at the right time, and you flip the script. You turn followers into thinkers and thinkers into leaders.
RdL’s Favourite Questions That Shift Mindsets
1. When something’s gone wrong:
“Help me better understand what led to this decision…”
This builds psychological safety and keeps the conversation open, not defensive.
2. When someone seeks answers too often:
“What do you think is the right approach here?”
This forces ownership and critical thinking.
3. When confidence is low:
“Tell me about a time you’ve succeeded—how might that apply here?”
This taps into past wins and reframes self-doubt as self-belief.
These aren’t just questions—they’re leadership tools. They elevate thinking, unlock new ideas, and foster an ownership culture that drives long-term results.
The Leadership Imperative
In a world moving faster than ever, you can’t afford a team that waits to be told. You need a team that questions, experiments, and leads at every level.
The best leaders don’t give all the answers—they give people the confidence to find their own.
So here’s your challenge: in your next team interaction, pause before you respond. Ask instead of tell. Build thinkers, not repeaters.
Great leaders don’t create followers—they create more leaders.
