Ask each person on your team, individually, one question this week, instead of offering advice.
These are some of my favorites:
▶️ What's one thing that would make your work easier right now?
▶️ What needs to be true for _________ to happen?
▶️ What is the real challenge here for you?
That's it.
✅ Give your quieter team members a low-stakes way to speak up.
✅ Open the door to tell your team their experience matters to you.
✅ Surface the friction you did not know existed, becuase you're busy doing other things.
Here's how to make it work:
- Ask 1:1, not in a group. You will get honest answers, not polished ones.
- Ask it this week. In a check-in, a hallway conversation, a Slack message. Wherever you show up with your team.
- Come up with a concrete solution. Specific, small action steps are the magic to move things forward.
- Check in within a week. Make sure those specific, small steps are happening.
Most importantly, make a habit of asking good questions.
Try it. Let me know how it goes.
