Good Leaders Ask Great Questions

About the Author

John C. Maxwell is a renowned leadership expert, speaker, and author. He has written over 100 books, which have sold more than 24 million copies and have been translated into 50 languages. Maxwell is the founder of several organizations, including The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, and EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained over 5 million leaders across 180 countries. Recognized as the most popular leadership expert in the world by Inc. magazine in 2014, Maxwell's work continues to inspire and guide leaders around the globe.

Main Idea

In "Good Leaders Ask Great Questions," John C. Maxwell emphasizes the transformative power of asking the right questions. Through his mastery of questioning, Maxwell demonstrates how leaders can learn, grow, connect with others, challenge themselves, improve their teams, and develop innovative ideas. The book guides readers on why questions are essential, what questions they should ask themselves and their teams, and how great questions can lead to significant leadership improvements. Maxwell's insights, combined with real-world examples, provide a roadmap for leaders at all levels to harness the power of questions to achieve greater success.

Table of Contents

• Part I: Questions I Ask
• Why Are Questions So Important?
• What Questions Do I Ask Myself as a Leader?
• What Questions Do I Ask My Team Members?
• Part II: Questions Leaders Ask Me
• What Must I Do to Lead Myself Successfully?
• How Does Leadership Work?
• How Do I Resolve Conflict and Lead Challenging People?
• How Can I Successfully Navigate Leadership Transitions?
• How Can I Develop Leaders?

Why Are Questions So Important?

Embracing questions as a lifestyle is crucial for reaching your leadership potential. Asking the right question to the right person at the right time sets you up for success. Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, said,

"The ability to ask the right question is more than half the battle of finding the answer."

This statement underscores the importance of being willing to ask questions. Questions unlock doors to new opportunities, experiences, and connections. They are the most effective way to connect with others, cultivate humility, engage in meaningful conversations, build better ideas, gain different perspectives, and challenge existing mindsets.

Maxwell emphasizes that great questions transform. They inspire deep thinking and can lead to significant personal and professional growth. He encourages readers to become intentional questioners, constantly seeking to understand and learn more about themselves and their surroundings.

What Questions Do I Ask Myself as a Leader?

Self-reflection is a critical component of effective leadership. Maxwell provides a guide for leaders to develop their own set of questions:

1. Am I Investing in Myself? A Question of Personal Growth. This question emphasizes the importance of self-investment, which is determined by self-image, dreams, and the influence of friends.
2. Am I Genuinely Interested in Others? A Question of Motivation. True leadership motivation aligns the good reason with the real reason for actions.
3. Am I Grounded as a Leader? A Question of Stability. Good leaders exhibit humility, authenticity, and a purpose bigger than themselves.
4. Am I Adding Value to My Team? A Question of Teamwork. Promoting commitment, encouragement, and leveraging strengths and weaknesses are key to adding value.
5. Am I Staying in My Strength Zone? A Question of Effectiveness. Focusing on strengths rather than shoring up weaknesses sets leaders apart.
6. Am I Taking Care of Today? A Question of Success. Success is achieved by effectively managing time across key areas such as faith, family, relationships, mission, and health.
7. Am I Investing My Time with the Right People? A Question of ROI. Leaving a legacy involves continuously investing in the right people.

What Questions Do I Ask My Team Members?

Maxwell paints a picture of leadership as a dialogue where leaders ask meaningful questions and listen to their team members: