Quick Question: What does it mean (to us) to be a team?

Ask it when you're...

1. Introducing a new structure  - Uncertainty features in any restructure, no matter how small. New teams galvanise around shared values and principles - which emerge through understanding what it means to be a team.

2. Role modelling your desired leadership culture - Demonstrating a genuine desire to understand your team will help build a culture of openness and inclusivity.

3. Observing unhelpful behaviours  - In asking for high performance, you’re likely to see a range of behaviours in the team. Some are highly individualistic and perhaps even destructive. You can set the standard by aligning on what it means to be a team.

Quick Question: How clear is our purpose?

Ask it when you're...

1. Starting a new venture  - Purpose is your magnet to attract investors, customers and team members. It’s often the reason people join you - and the reason why they stay, even when things aren’t going so well.

2. Making decisions - Purpose forms the roots from which your company grows. It creates guardrails for your biggest and your smallest decisions.

3. Sensing confusion or tension within your team  - If your purpose isn’t precise, aspirational, credible and perceived as important, your team will find it tough to align their behaviours with the company values.

   For more information about the impact of purpose on your team’s success, check out my free ebook, Scaling Teams.

Quick Question: Why does our team exist?

Ask it when you're...

1. Kicking off a planning cycle  - It might be your 5-year strategy, an annual plan or even a quarterly update.

2. Onboarding a new team member - Give your newest recruit a head start by initiating a conversation with the entire team about what you’re all about and how they fit in.

3. Facing resistance from internal stakeholders.

Quick Question: What is your guiding theme for 2025?

Maybe it's a single word that captures your intention. Perhaps it's a phrase that keeps you focused on the things or people you care most about. Or it could even be an image that represents your vision for 2025.

For me, it’s a single word…create. I love that it is an action with tangible outcomes. I’ve got a series of projects planned that are aimed at delivering this intention, but more on that later.

If you’re having trouble coming up with a theme, try using these prompts to help:

• What will success look and feel like in 2025?

• What is the one thing you’d love to achieve in 2025?

• What are your non-negotiables for 2025?

Quick Question: How should we end the year?

This is a great litmus test for how your feelings might unconsciously impact your team.

Try to listen for:

• Distractions -  projects or tasks that won't contribute to your accomplishments for the year

• Recency - it’s easy to only think about things that happened last week or last month rather than reflecting on the whole year

• Anticipation  - the things that pop into your mind as you look forward to the end of this year and the beginning of next year.

This question helps create a sense of accomplishment and sets the scene for an enthusiastic start to the new year.

Quick Question: How should we end the year?

This is a great litmus test for how your feelings might unconsciously impact your team.

Try to listen for:

• Distractions -  projects or tasks that won't contribute to your accomplishments for the year

• Recency - it’s easy to only think about things that happened last week or last month rather than reflecting on the whole year

• Anticipation  - the things that pop into your mind as you look forward to the end of this year and the beginning of next year.

This question helps create a sense of accomplishment and sets the scene for an enthusiastic start to the new year.

Quick Question: How will we know we’ve succeeded?

It’s easy to talk about high-level success indicators - but it’s worth taking the time to listen for measurable outcomes wherever possible.

Quick Question: Who has done this before?

As leaders, we often feel the pressure to have all the answers. Seeking the perspective of experienced others can help reduce this pressure and enable us to focus on the most important questions.

This question helps us remember to leverage our networks and seek thought partnership wherever we can.

Quick Question: What am I missing?

It’s tempting to only hear ‘new things’ when listening to responses. Challenge yourself to listen to how your thoughts are echoed and built upon.

Try to listen for:

• Alternate descriptions - Notice how someone new explains the problem. Let a fresh voice give you a new perspective.

• Certainty - Seek data or opinions that seem stronger and more certain than yours.

• Unexpected emotions - If your curiosity produces an unexpected response, tread gently and offer help and kindness.

This question can help deepen your understanding of both problems and people.

Quick Question: Who should I thank?

This is a question that we often ask ourselves rather than others. When holding up that mirror, the challenge is to make sure we think of all the different angles.

Quick Question: What can we learn from...?

Whether it's the end of a project, the early days of new product design or team planning, integrating past learnings is critical.

Listen for genuine insights, consistent messages and unresolved conversations.