If you are like me, being a leader is challenging. The normal leadership activity (we think) is to tell others what to do. The smarter thing is to ask questions.  It is so much easier, though, to just tell people what to do. It might surprise you to know that dictating action, activity, and instructions to those around you can actually be quite limiting for you and your ministry.

I’m still working on this facet of leadership…and like me, you may need some help getting started in the process of asking questions. A recent post by my friend Bob Tiede (LeadingWithQuestions.com) had these suggestions.

  • Ask and give people a chance to think before they respond, don’t fill the silence.
  • Don’t judge their answers; say “yes AND….” instead of “yes, BUT….”
  • Assume that the people on your team are smart and capable, because they ARE.
  • Give them a chance to lead the way forward.

Questions to Ask Your Team This Week and EVERY Week

  1. How can I help?
  2. What do you think?
  3. What needs to happen next?
  4. What’s possible from here?
  5. How can we take it up a level?
  6. What do you need from me?
  7. What can we use that we already have?
  8. What’s in our way?
  9. What scares you?
  10. How can I clear the path forward?

I love these suggestions. Jesus used this technique as he dealt with the people around him.

Then he (Jesus) asked them (the disciples), “But who do you say I am?” Matthew 15:16 NLT

Jesus didn’t ask this for His own information or His own affirmation. He asked because He knew that who they believed He was would make all the difference in their lives. And Peter’s answer became a revelation to those around him.

You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:16 NLT

I almost wrote, “Use these suggested questions this week to increase your leadership.” Instead, let me ASK, “Reading this, what needs to happen next in your ministry?” I’ll wait for you to ponder and then answer.