Micromanagers Tell. Leaders Ask.

Want to be a leader, not a manager? (Or worse, a micromanager?)

Here’s a quick leadership litmus test: In any given situation, are you more likely to tell your team what to do, or do you start by asking questions?

While micromanagers focus on telling people what to do, the best leaders guide and empower their people by asking questions—questions that encourage the team to design, and decide on, their own course of action.

Here are 5 favorite Be Leaderly posts to help you lead by asking, not telling.

1. Get into a leaderly mind-set

Use this checklist to develop a curious nature, build trust, be fully present, and truly listen. Put yourself in the right frame of mind to lead with questions.

2. Ask yourself thought-provoking questions

Follow the example of four high-energy, engaging leaders, and ask these questions to keep yourself motivated, engaged, and focused on what’s best for your team.

3. Turn your statements into questions

Catch yourself making statements. Challenge yourself to replace those statements with questions that encourage the people you work with to think, learn, problem-solve, act, or create.

4. Become a better strategist

Make the transition from being reactive to thinking strategically, by asking these six questions. Do some deeply reflective thinking and gain a long-term view of your business.

5. Power up your mentoring sessions

Make the most of every conversation with your mentor with these four types of questions. And encourage your mentees to do the same.

As a leader, you don’t need to have all the answers! It’s better for you, your team, and the business when you ask questions.