In this conversation we got interested in:
- Stepping up and stepping back
- Getting out of the way without giving ‘power’ away.
Q: What do I do to enable others to lead?
Trust
Trust gets withdrawn in a crisis -> Q: What is we want people TO DO? [as opposed to not do].
Its never only 1 answer but there can be common goals.
Q: Who is the most important customer/client in this particular context?
Leadership as influencing
Connection creates influence –> you can’t by-pass the relational bit. People want to be known and story telling can be key and quick in establishing connected relationships.
Q: What’s the success story? What made it the best?
Being useful – understanding how:
- involvement enables people to do change
- Appreciating is not about agreeing – its about understanding and embracing other perspectives to best inform the way forward.
Taking time to Think
Hanging onto the value of reflection in a fast paced world where thinking doesn’t look like working. Staying with another person’s thinking – not rushing along if it seems to take too long. Being ok with the silence. Watching and listening for the next great thought.
Jose Marino said “ I don’t read books, I think.”
Q: What could I ask now that would help folk to stop and think?
Q: What’s our best thinking now?
Becoming flexible adaptive and responsive
Knowing everyone’s expertise and mobilizing it. Moving away from needing to be seen to know everything -> working collaboratively-> asking for help.
Q: How can we help leaders notice the everyday hero’s and to pass on the stories of everyday heroism to others?
People aren’t a fixed resource they’re variable and can stretch – in times when other resources shrink. Its not about working harder and longer.
Q: How can I grow more [e.g. capability/energy/motivation]with what I’ve got and in a sustainable way?
And we shared some great questions for our own ways forward:
Q: How did that success come about?
Q: What else happened?
Q: How do you explain that? [If its complex]
Q: What else are you thinking?
Q: What are the top of your head thoughts?
Q: How did you help to make that happen?
Q: What’s happened here – in this conversation. What are we taking away?
Q: If there was a miracle how would you know?
Q: What’s the smallest thing that you can do that will bring that miracle about?
Q: Looking back – what would you have liked to see happen?
Q: What would be the 1st thing that we could celebrate?
Q: What can we celebrate now?
Q: What is the conversation you need to have, with whom, about what?
Q: When is xyz at its best?
Q: What’s the question we need to ask?
Q: What are the questions that matter to you?
Q: If that’s the answer, what’s the question?
Q: What would the question be for others? What is their thinking?
Q: What would Gordon Ramsey say now?!