What 37 Years of Leadership Have Taught Me About Having All The Answers

When I first started leading at nineteen, I thought good leaders were supposed to have answers.

As the leader, people look to you for direction, so I assumed my value lay in doing just that and in solving all the problems. If someone asked a question, I answered it. If there was an issue, I would step in. It felt responsible and servant-hearted.

Looking back, I can see that I unintentionally created dependency.

The more I answered, the less other people thought for themselves.

One of the hardest lessons I've learned is that leadership isn't primarily about demonstrating what you know. It's about helping other people discover what they can do.

Jesus modelled this brilliantly. Although He certainly had the answers, He often chose to ask questions instead. He invited people to think, reflect and respond. Rather than creating dependence, He developed understanding and faith.

James encourages us,

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God..." (James 1:5).

This is a reminder that as leaders we don't need to project perfect knowledge. Our confidence comes from depending on God's wisdom rather than our own.

Leadership author John C. Maxwell wrote,

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

I would add that caring for people also means allowing them to grow, even when it would be quicker to solve the problem yourself.

Today, one of my favourite leadership tools is to ask questions.

"What do you think?"

"How would you approach this?"

"What options have you already considered?"

These simple questions communicate trust. They encourage ownership. They develop confidence.

After 37 years of leadership, I'm still learning this lesson.

Sometimes the best answer a leader can give is another question.

Where could you ask one more question before offering one more answer this week?