NFL legend Lou Holtz said, “I never learn anything by talking. I only learn things when I ask questions.” We know we want to or need to ask more questions, but the questions don’t always come to us. These are five kinds of questions you may ask in any situation: 5Ws: who, what, when, where, how. These are data questions. What has been happening? How long has this been going on? Why/Purpose: “Why” questions address meaning and importance. Why is this important to you? What does this mean to you? Risks: Managing risk is a fundamental leadership skill. What risks do you see? What can happen if this isn’t resolved? Internal Reflection: Reflecting internally can counter the tendency to externalize or blame others. Is there any way you/your team may have contributed to this situation? What makes this difficult for you? Impact/Business Case: Business case questions help ensure relevance to the business at hand. How is this impacting the business, revenue, cash, costs, and customers?
