Don’t lead with the answer. Lead with the problem, then watch who shows up with ideas.

LEADERSHIP

WHAT THIS MEANS

Presenting a finished solution invites evaluation, so people either approve it or poke holes, and either way they are spectators. Presenting the problem invites participation, and whoever contributes a piece is now attached to the outcome. You also get ideas you did not have, which is the part people skip when they arrive with everything already decided.

Bring the next thing to your group unfinished. Say what is going wrong and what you are unsure about, then stay quiet long enough for someone to fill it. Watch who steps in, because that tells you something too.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

Could you bring the problem instead of the answer?

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