Leaders moving at pace often rely on quick assumptions that feel harmless but quietly erode clarity. The biggest risk is the closed question trap.
The Assumption Trap
Shad arrived at our coaching session with a deep frown. “Although I’m doing a better job setting clear expectations,” he said, “how do I know they’re truly understood? If people say they understand but then do the opposite, what am I missing?”
Why Closed Questions Fail
In leadership, the most common clarity killer is asking “Do you understand?” With only two answers available, most people default to “Yes” to please, avoid friction, or move on. Leaders believe alignment exists, but confusion lingers, projects slow, and accountability slips.
Lead with Open, Specific Questions
Swap yes/no checks for open, curious questions that invite more useful detail. These questions promote dialogue, reveal misunderstandings, and encourage ownership. Specificity matters: the sharper the question, the richer the response and the clearer your picture of alignment.
What Shad Changed
Shad replaced “Do you understand?” with targeted, open questions for his engineering team:
- What parts have you understood?
- Which pieces feel unclear?
- What do you anticipate could block progress?
- How do you plan to move this forward?
- Where do you need more input from me?
- When can you commit to delivery?
The Impact in Two Weeks
Within a fortnight, Shad saw a step change. Ownership became visible, delivery confidence rose, and he felt energised about leading again.
“Changing how I ask questions gives me a drastically clearer view of ownership. I’m more confident in the team’s ability to deliver and more excited about my role.”
Your Next Step
Before asking a closed question, pause and consider: “Am I seeking a real answer or just confirmation?” Shift to open, specific questions to strengthen clarity, accountability, and genuine engagement. If you want support to craft open, authentic questions that unlock higher team ownership, we’d love to help you have those courageous conversations.
