Questions to Ask to Accelerate Growth

Having the right answers is not the key to leaps in development and success. Using The 4 Mindsets and asking key questions is more likely to drive growth.

I have found the most sustainably impactful humans have optimal command and harmonic blend of these four mindsets: Humility, Curiosity, Courage, and Confidence.

I’ve also learned that even if I know something to be the best option today, it’s very possible that changes in the future. Therefore, much of my knowledge expires in relevance (in a way), so I’m obsessed with unlearning and learning better ways to lead, grow, and make an impact.

Said another way, lasting success and leadership doesn’t come from having the best/right answers to start, it is more likely driven by having the right questions, asked frequently over time.

The innovator’s dilemma we’ve all heard of stems from being blinded by our own progress and failing to ask (or re-ask) these questions as we experience success and progress on our journey.

Here are some starter questions, grouped by what I’ve come to call "‘The 4 Mindsets”, that have helped me along the way.

Humble:

• What do I know that I don’t know (that others do)?

• Do I acknowledge there are things I don’t know, that I don’t know?

• How can I learn from those who are willing to teach or help me?

Curious:

• Who does this best?

• Who can I learn from?

• What are other ways to think about this task/stage/need?

• What does my team see/experience that I don’t?

Courageous:

• If not me, who? If not now, when?

• What happens if we don’t do this? (If we don’t, the competition will)

• Am I/are we nervous? If so, reframe risk as I am failing (“X” fill in the blank) if I don’t make this change/address this

• What are examples of others who have done more, with less? How can I use that for inspiration and perspective to build courage?

Confident:

• Do I feel strongly I/we can figure it out?

• What’s the worst that can go wrong? And how likely is that really?

• How grounded am I in alternatives and how well thought out is my decision? (Discipline: just because we can do something does not mean we should)

• Who are people I can rely on for support and help as needed? Nothing will go exactly right, so how do we build the support plan to solve for risk and build confidence?

I hope these broad, but important question in each mindset area help you navigate big decisions, moments of stagnation, opportunities, pivots, and more!