Do Not Underestimate the Power of Questions: They Unlock Dreams

I do the research and write all the content and subject matter for my weekly Radio Broadcast called, “Discover the Leader in You.”™ The show is recorded live and broadcasts to over 200,000 people on a weekly basis, so I always try to make sure that I am adding value to the listeners by bringing in amazing content experts, while supplying them with nuggets of wisdom they can immediately implement in their businesses.

A key component of the show’s success lies in the questions that are asked of the show’s guests. For example, some of the questions are open-ended while others do not allow any wiggle room and require reflective thought before providing an answer. Both types offer a powerful combination that elicits substantive responses from my guests…I am thankful for them and their transparency.

During the course of one recent interview, I was struck with how pivotal the experience can be for the guests and the listening audience based upon the questions that were posed during the show and the responses I received after the show. While quite simple, the question I asked centered around “Why do they engage in their particular job?”

Now, for any of you reading this, when you are doing “Live Radio” and experience the presence of “Dead Air” or silence, this is not a good thing, and for the first time in recent memory, there was a long pause after what some would perceive was a simple question. However, in reality, the question caused my guest to reflect on what course or path their life was on and it created a groundswell of emotions. That was a good thing because it made them get back in touch with their “Why.”

I am reminded of Frederick Nietzsche’s quote that reads, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how!” The quote resonates with me because storms in life will come, mid-course corrections will be needed and maybe even some moments that you ask for, “do overs” but regardless of all of that, if you know your why, it’s possible to move forward.

The one takeaway that I do not want you to miss is this, all of that engagement and interaction was birthed out of the power of questions and the subsequent responses they yield. As you lead or respectfully follow others, your ability to critically think and ask the right questions can reveal a clear path forward or possibly unlock someone’s dreams. For that reason, take a risk and join me in reflecting on five key questions that I like to ask of leaders and followers that help to reveal their “Why.”

1. How is your purpose being carried out as you lead others in your current position?
2. Are you willing to take a risk to develop someone else even if it may cost you something?
3. How does your current situation line up with the preferred vision that you have for your life?
4. How will you know that your life held meaning for others you encountered on your journey?
5. What are you doing to remain the biggest advocate of your dreams?