Yesterday I went for my morning walk to feed the ducks. There is a lovely 94 year old man I see often feeding them as well. I walked him home as he wasn’t feeling well. His name is Chris and loved hearing about his story…his life. I was so curious that I didn’t want the walk to end. It takes courage to connect and curiosity and compassion are the keys. Connection is everything.

Here are some brilliant insights into how to ask great questions and how stay curious and compassionate.

Great leaders often communicate in ways that inspire, motivate, and empower others. Here are some things that great leaders commonly say:

1. “I believe in you.”Trust and confidence in others can motivate them to perform at their best.
2. “How can I help?”Offering support and assistance shows that they care about their team’s success and well-being.
3. “Thank you.”Expressing gratitude acknowledges the hard work and contributions of others, fostering a positive environment.
4. “What do you think?”Encouraging input and valuing diverse perspectives can lead to better decision-making and innovation.
5. “Let’s find a solution together.”Promoting collaboration and teamwork to overcome challenges.
6. “It’s okay to fail.”Emphasising that mistakes are part of the learning process can create a culture of growth and resilience.
7. “I was wrong.”Admitting mistakes and showing vulnerability builds trust and credibility.
8. “Let’s celebrate our success.”Recognising and celebrating achievements boosts morale and motivation.
9. “What did we learn from this?”Encouraging reflection and learning from experiences, both positive and negative.
10. “I trust your judgment.”Empowering others by showing confidence in their abilities and decision-making.
11. “How can we improve?”Always looking for ways to grow and improve, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
12. “Your work matters.”Reinforcing the importance and impact of each person’s contributions to the larger goal.

Great leaders understand the power of their words and use them to build trust, inspire action, and create a positive and productive environment.

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How to be a Great Leader who leads with Compassion

Leading with compassion involves understanding and responding to the needs and concerns of others with empathy, kindness, and support. Here are some essential practices to become a great leader who leads with compassion:

1. Practice Active Listening:Give your full attention to others when they speak, showing that you value their thoughts and feelings. Listen without interrupting and respond thoughtfully.
2. Show Empathy:Try to understand and share the feelings of others. Acknowledge their emotions and experiences, and let them know you care about their well-being.
3. Be Present and Approachable:Make yourself available to your team. Be approachable and open to conversations, whether they are about work or personal matters.
4. Offer Support:Provide assistance and resources to help others overcome challenges. Be proactive in offering help and showing that you are there to support them.
5. Encourage Open Communication:Create a safe environment where people feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas without fear of judgment or retribution.
6. Recognize and Appreciate:Recognize and appreciate your team members’ efforts and achievements regularly. Celebrate their successes and show gratitude for their contributions.
7. Be Patient and Understanding:Understand that everyone has different strengths, weaknesses, and personal situations. Be patient with others, especially during difficult times, and offer understanding and flexibility.
8. Lead by Example:Model the behaviour you want to see in others. Show compassion in your actions and decisions, and demonstrate integrity, respect, and kindness.
9. Provide Constructive Feedback:When offering feedback, be constructive and supportive. Focus on growth and improvement rather than criticism.
10. Foster a Positive Work Environment:Create a culture that promotes well-being, inclusivity, and mutual respect. Encourage teamwork, collaboration, and a sense of community.
11. Practice Self-Compassion:Take care of your own well-being and practice self-compassion. A leader who is kind to themselves is better equipped to be kind to others.
12. Continuously Learn and Grow:Stay open to learning about compassion and leadership. Seek feedback on your leadership style and look for ways to improve and evolve.

Leading with compassion enhances the well-being and satisfaction of your team and fosters a more productive, collaborative, and positive work environment.

Great Questions that Leaders ask!

Curiosity questions are powerful tools for leaders to gain deeper insights, foster innovation, and build stronger team relationships. Here are some questions leaders can ask to cultivate curiosity:

1. What are your thoughts on this idea? Encourages input and diverse perspectives.
2. Can you tell me more about your experience with this project? Invites detailed sharing and learning from past experiences.
3. What challenges are you facing, and how can we address them? Identifies obstacles and collaboratively seeks solutions.
4. What inspired your approach to this problem? Understands the creative process and motivations behind decisions.
5. How can we improve our current process? Seeks suggestions for continuous improvement.
6. What new skills or knowledge do you want to acquire? Supports professional development and growth.
7. What trends or changes do you see happening in our industry? Gathers insights on external influences and future directions.
8. How can we better support you in your role? Shows concern for team members’ well-being and success.
9. What are some potential risks we might be overlooking? Encourages critical thinking and risk management.
10. How do you balance your work and personal life? Understands and respects team members’ work-life balance.
11. What would you do differently if you were in my position? Gains perspective and learns from others’ viewpoints.
12. What do you think our customers need most from us? Focuses on customer-centric thinking and service improvement.
13. How do you stay motivated during challenging times? Share strategies for resilience and motivation.
14. What recent success are you most proud of, and why? Celebrates achievements and understands what drives satisfaction.
15. What are some innovative practices you’ve seen in other organisations? Bring fresh ideas and best practices from external sources.
16. How can we better communicate and collaborate as a team? Enhances teamwork and communication.
17. What assumptions are we making that need to be challenged? Encourages questioning the status quo and thinking outside the box.
18. What is one thing you would change about our organisation if you could? Seeks honest feedback for potential improvements.
19. How can we make our meetings more effective and engaging? Aims to improve productivity and engagement in meetings.
20. What do you see as our most significant opportunity for growth? Identifies strategic opportunities for the future.

These questions help leaders understand their team’s perspectives, uncover new ideas, and foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement.