Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast: "Unlocking the Power of Great Questions"

Release Date: March 6, 2025
Host: Life.Church
Description: The Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast offers personal, practical coaching lessons that demystify leadership. Each episode provides empowering insights and actionable takeaways to help you lead yourself and your team effectively, fostering growth, optimizing time, developing team members, and structuring your organization.

Introduction

In the episode titled "Unlocking the Power of Great Questions," Craig Groeschel delves into one of the most potent yet underrated leadership tools: the art of asking impactful questions. Groeschel emphasizes that mastering this skill can transform leadership effectiveness, while neglecting it can significantly limit a leader’s potential.

[00:00] Craig Groeschel: "The quality of the questions that you ask determine the quality of the information that you get."

The Importance of Great Questions in Leadership

Groeschel begins by highlighting a common leadership flaw: leaders often prioritize having the right answers over asking the right questions. However, he asserts that without the right questions, obtaining the right answers is impossible. He underscores that leadership potential is directly tied to the quality of questions a leader poses.

[00:02] Craig Groeschel: "Your leadership potential will never exceed the quality of the questions that you ask."

Three Core Reasons to Ask Questions

1. Gain Knowledge and Understanding

   Asking questions is fundamental for acquiring information and comprehending complex situations. Groeschel references the Dunning-Kruger effect, explaining that leaders often operate under the illusion of knowing more than they do. By asking questions, leaders can uncover blind spots and deepen their understanding.

   [05:30] Craig Groeschel: "What you don't ask, you won't know, and what you don't know, you can't grow."

2. Develop Deeper and Stronger Relationships

   Intentional questioning fosters meaningful connections with team members. By showing genuine interest through questions, leaders make individuals feel heard and valued, which strengthens trust and collaboration.

   [12:15] Craig Groeschel: "When people feel heard, they feel valued."

3. Help Others Grow and Gain Insight

   Questions can be a powerful coaching tool, guiding team members to discover insights and solutions themselves. This approach not only empowers individuals but also cultivates a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement.

   [20:45] Craig Groeschel: "The best leaders don't just ask questions to get answers. They ask questions to get people thinking."

How to Ask Better Questions

Groeschel provides practical strategies for enhancing the quality of questions leaders ask:

1. Use Open-Ended Questions:

   Start questions with "what" or "how" rather than "do" or "did" to encourage more comprehensive responses.

   [27:10] Craig Groeschel: "If you have not subscribed, let me encourage you to hit subscribe wherever you consume this content."

2. Stay Curious and Encourage Elaboration:

   After an initial response, prompt further discussion with phrases like "Tell me more," "Why?" or "What else?"

   [29:50] Craig Groeschel: "What else? Tell me more."

3. Active Listening:

   Pay attention not only to what is being said but also to what is left unsaid. Observing body language and sensing underlying feelings can provide deeper insights.

   [33:20] Craig Groeschel: "Listen to what they say and also listen to what they don't say."

Creating a Climate of Trust

Asking sincere, focused questions requires a trusting environment. Groeschel advises leaders to:

• Express Genuine Interest:

  Clearly communicate that questions are asked out of respect and value for the individual's insights.

  [40:05] Craig Groeschel: "I'm going to ask you some questions because you're really smart. I truly value your insight."

• Avoid Leading Questions:

  Ensure questions are unbiased and open-ended to prevent defensive responses and encourage honest feedback.

  [43:30] Craig Groeschel: "Don't ask leading questions. You're not searching for information to confirm your biases."

• Encourage Authenticity:

  Let team members know that their honest opinions are crucial for growth and improvement.

  [48:15] Craig Groeschel: "Tell me the truth. What do you really, really think?"

Practical Examples and Anecdotes

Groeschel shares several real-life scenarios to illustrate effective and ineffective questioning:

• Interviewing Candidates:

  Instead of the typical "Do you have any questions for us?" Groeschel prefers saying, "I'm sure you have a lot of questions. Fire away," to encourage candidates to ask more meaningful questions that reveal their values and priorities.

• Team Feedback Sessions:

  When visiting Life.Church campuses, Groeschel listens for specific language that indicates genuine commitment, such as "I love our church" instead of "I love your church," to gauge true engagement.

• Parenting Insights:

  Open-ended questions can also be applied outside of professional settings. For example, asking children about their friends' experiences rather than direct questions about their own struggles can lead to more open and honest conversations.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Groeschel cautions leaders about:

• Deflection and Overconfidence:

  As leaders ascend in their roles, there's a temptation to assume they know more, which can hinder the willingness to ask questions.

• Perception of Attacks:

  Without proper context, questions can be misconstrued as criticisms or commands, leading to defensiveness among team members.

• Fishing for Confirmation:

  Leaders must avoid asking questions that seek to validate their own beliefs or assumptions, instead striving for genuine understanding.

Conclusion and Forward Look

Groeschel wraps up the episode by reiterating the transformative power of great questions in leadership. He encourages listeners to be curious, engaged, and sincere in their inquiries to foster deeper connections and drive meaningful outcomes.

[54:50] Craig Groeschel: "When you ask better questions, guess what, you get better insights."

He also teases the next episode, which will cover specific questions that distinguish the best leaders, promising actionable strategies for enhancing leadership effectiveness.

Final Takeaways

• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Facilitate richer conversations and deeper insights.
• Foster Trust: Create a safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing honestly.
• Listen Actively: Pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Encourage Growth: Use questions as a tool to mentor and develop your team.
• Avoid Bias: Ensure your questions are neutral and aimed at uncovering truthful information.

By integrating these principles, leaders can significantly enhance their influence, build stronger teams, and achieve greater organizational success.

Additional Resources:

• Leader Guide: Accessible at Life Church Leadership Podcast, offering summaries, questions, and information to aid leadership growth.
• Book Giveaway: Craig Groeschel’s new book, The Benefit of Doubt, is available for free to listeners who comment "I like free books" on YouTube or Spotify.

Assignment:

Groeschel urges listeners to be curious, be engaged, be open, and be prayerful in their leadership journey. By asking meaningful questions, leaders can uncover deeper insights, foster authentic relationships, and drive their teams toward greater success.

[58:30] Craig Groeschel: "The right questions at the right time will change everything."

Thank you for investing your time with this episode. Together, we’re all getting better leaders.