The Power of Questions

How Curiosity, Presence, and Powerful Questions Retain Talent and Build Trust

The Power of Questions.pdf

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Spot disengagement before it’s too late
Replace advice with empowered discovery
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Imagine this:
🔹 Your team is asked about you as a leader—when you’re not in the room.
🔹 What words would they use? "Present," "truly listens," "challenges us to think," "makes us feel valued"?
🔹 Or would they pause, searching for something authentic to say?

The difference lies in four transformative habits...your ability to serve, to be fully present, to listen deeply—and above all, to stay relentlessly curious through powerful questions.

Great leaders don’t just manage talent; they ignite it. And the spark isn’t advice—it’s curiosity that unlocks self-discovery, ownership, and growth.

"The most important leadership tool isn’t your voice—it’s your ears. And the courage to ask, ‘What am I missing?’"
— Adapted from Max DePree

Why Curiosity > Commands for Retaining Talent

Employees don’t leave companies; they leave managers who don’t see, hear, or invest in them. Research shows:

Only 32% of employees feel "deeply listened to" at work (Harvard Business Review).
Teams with leaders who prioritize curiosity over control see 31% higher innovation (Deloitte).

Your service as a leader isn’t about having answers—it’s about:
✅ Being present: Putting down your phone, silencing your inner monologue, and giving full attention.
✅ Listening to understand (not respond): "Tell me more about that…" vs. "Here’s why that won’t work."
✅ Leading with curiosity: "What’s your take?" instead of "Here’s how we’ll do it."

The Questions That Show Up

1. The Retention Mirror

❌ "Are you satisfied with your role?" (Check-the-box HR question)
✅ "What’s one thing we could change to make you excited to stay here three more years?" (Service: Shows you care about their future, not just retention metrics.)

2. The Legacy Question

❌ "How’s my leadership?" (Ego-driven)
✅ "If someone interviewed the team about my leadership tomorrow, what would you hope they’d say—and what would you worry they’d say?" (Curiosity: Unfiltered feedback that reveals blind spots.)

3. The Talent-Building Gift

❌ "What training do you need?" (Passive)
✅ "If you could design your ideal next 12 months of growth here, what would it include?" (Presence: Signals commitment to their aspirations, not just skills gaps.)

4. The Coaching Compass

❌ "Here’s how I solved this…" (Teaches dependency)
✅ "What’s the bravest next step you could take here? What support would make that easier?" (Listening: Honors their agency while offering support.)

What Their Answers Reveal About Your Leadership

The "Stay Interview" Questions Only Curious Leaders Ask

Replace exit interviews with monthly curiosity conversations:
🔹 "What’s one thing I don’t yet know about what you need to thrive here?" (Service)
🔹 "When do you feel most and least valued on this team?" (Listening)
🔹 "What’s an idea you’ve been too hesitant to share—and why?" (Curiosity)

"The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve."
— Robert K. Greenleaf

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