It was a simple question, but six months later the words still formed how the young leader processed life. On a walk with my son, he related that he was still processing a question I asked him six months earlier. Note to self: Questions impact more than telling.

Sometimes I want to be the knowledge expert, the “go-to” guy to solve and fix problems rather than a guide who leads others to discover answers for themselves. During recent meetings with our Western Europe leadership, I was reminded of the value of asking questions versus telling answers.  Paul Duncan modeled this by leading us through an exercise.  One group brainstormed on the disadvantages of telling while the second group wrote down the advantages of asking.  Here are our answers below:

What would you add to the lists? What are the advantages of asking?  What are more disadvantages of telling?

If…