Leaders Don’t Answer Questions - They Ask Them
How To Empower Others to Find the Answer
I couldn’t figure it out !
Early in my career, I was tasked with building a government submission to support the reimbursement of one of our pharmaceutical medications. It was daunting—balancing clinical evidence with financial analysis. Every detail mattered, and I couldn’t afford to get it wrong. The stakes were too high.
As the days passed, I felt overwhelmed and stuck. I couldn’t see a clear path forward and was falling behind schedule.
Frustrated, I went to my leader and asked, “What should I do?”
He listened patiently and asked, “What do you think you should do?”
Seriously? If I knew the answer, I wouldn’t have come!
Sensing my hesitation, he asked a few questions for me to ponder:
“What’s the most critical piece to address first?”
“What do we need to prove for the government to say yes?”
“What data could strengthen our case?”
Honestly, I left a bit deflated. But looking back, it was probably the best thing he could have done. Instead of handing me the answer, he pushed me to think critically and break the problem down.
Great leaders don’t answer questions - they ask them !
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Leaders Don’t Have All the Solutions
Leaders are often expected to have all the answers.
But the reality is, leaders don’t always know the answer. Instead, they help others think critically and make decisions.
Inexperienced leaders feel the need to answer every question. But doing so can hold their team back. When leaders provide all the answers, they stop others from thinking for themselves and solving problems on their own.
By resisting the urge to answer everything, leaders encourage their teams to step up and take ownership. Asking the right questions helps guide the team to find the best solutions while building confidence and responsibility.
As a leader, ask powerful and insightful questions.
A Practical Guide: How to Lead Without Answering Questions
The goal is to guide them toward the solution, not provide it.
Here’s how :
✅ More Questions, Fewer Answers
Instead of saying, “Here’s how you can solve this,” reply, “What do you think is the best approach here?” This encourages independent thinking and problem-solving.
✅ Facilitate Thinking
Create an environment where team members can think through challenges. Help them break down problems into smaller, manageable parts, guiding them toward the solution.
✅ Provide Resources, Not Solutions
Equip your team with the tools they need—whether that’s knowledge, frameworks, or guidance—and allow them the space to make connections. Often, they just need time to explore options and come up with their own answers.
✅ Encourage Reflection
After offering guidance, encourage reflection. Ask questions like, “What would you do differently next time?” This helps your team internalize lessons and improve for the future.
Take-Home Messages
🦉 Good leadership is about asking good questions
Leaders guide their teams by empowering them to think critically and find their own solutions, not by providing all the answers.
Empower others to think for themselves.
About the Author:
Nick is passionate about enabling people and businesses to reach their full potential. He taps into over 25+ years of truly diverse leadership experience, challenging the status quo - to ultimately define a clear strategic path forward and propel success.
Thought Leader | Board member | Founder of Aktina Group Consulting | Proud Father
It’s unrealistic to expect leaders to always have all the answers. In reality, many times we have a sense of what needs to be done, but having someone reflect that back to us can provide the confidence to express it and gain validation. This process of hearing our ideas echoed can help clarify our thinking and give us the courage to move forward with more certainty.