Management Tip of the Day: 3 Tips for Asking Better Questions

For leaders to be effective, they need to connect honestly with others: investors, direct reports, fellow leaders. Asking good questions can not only help you find out essential information, but also lay the groundwork for collaboration. Often it's not about what you ask, but how. Here are three tips for improving the way you ask questions:

1. Be curious. Doing all the talking doesn't make you an effective leader. Be inquisitive and ask about topics that are important to you and to the person with whom you're talking.
2. Be open-ended. Use what, how, and why questions. Don't just ask about events, but about thoughts and motivations as well.
3. Dig deeper. Don't accept the first answer you get. Ask follow-up questions to get more detail and surface the real story.