Leaders have strong opinions and are used to sharing them. Earlier in my career, I viewed brainstorming sessions as an opportunity for a little healthy competition – to get everyone excited and motivated to take on new ideas and tasks. As I have grown into an inclusive leader, however, I realize that in these moments I actually stood in the way of my own goals.

If a leader opens a meeting with a statement or declaration, particularly when brainstorming, then everything that follows aligns around that thought. It’s natural in a group setting to rally around the boss’s thinking. What I realize now is that I wasn’t getting the multiple points of view I wanted.

I also understand that not everyone wants to be in a competitive environment in the workplace. There are many thoughtful team members who process information differently or are less inclined to speak out in a setting that can get a little aggressive.

Leadership today: A shift toward inquiry

Effective leadership is not just about giving orders or making statements. Instead, leaders can refocus efforts by asking the right questions and actively listening to the team. Given that an Indeed study reported that “only 29% of people are thriving at work, while the other 71% report low-to-moderate well-being at their jobs,” executives should prioritize ways to get employees more deeply engaged in decision-making.

This inclusive approach to pulling team members into conversations is important as leaders cultivate an organizational culture designed to enhance creativity, foster innovation and promote inclusivity. By reframing one’s communication style to prioritize inquiry over assertion, leaders can create an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and every voice is heard.

If you truly want the best idea to win, learn to ask questions instead of making statements. Over time, your team will gain confidence and become more willing to discuss new ideas. It may be my role as CEO to articulate a vision, but is also my responsibility to ignite teams in meaningful dialogue.

The old adage “There is no ‘I’ in team” has newfound validity when a fresh idea or initiative fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment among team members, while simultaneously generating better outcomes by tapping into the collective wisdom of the group.

The art of asking thoughtful questions

Communication is at the center of being an inclusive leader, but it is an expanded definition of the way we previously viewed communication. Today, it is focused on ensuring that a dialogue exists so that the project or campaign is powered by the collective efforts of the team. In a culture-driven workplace, asking great questions that lead to an expanded dialogue should be a skill that leaders cultivate and continue to build.

Let’s look at how a leader can use thoughtful questions in a hiring scenario. What I have found is that asking better questions will help make better hires. Most job interviews include basic questions that allow candidates to discuss their skills, but if you want to know how a potential teammate will perform in a role, then you need to go deeper. Try asking scenario-based questions like, “Tell me about a challenge you had with a supervisor. How did you handle it?” or “Describe a moment in your life that you are proudest of.”

By delving beyond surface-level qualifications and skills, leaders can assess a candidate’s problem-solving abilities, resilience and whether they are truly a culture addition more effectively. This approach enables you to identify top talent and signals to the prospect that the organization values critical thinking and creativity, which are essential in a knowledge economy where the best candidates can choose the type of organization they want to join.

The role of active listening in inclusive leadership

Too often, managers and supervisors ask questions, but don’t give people the space to answer, as if they are just (impatiently) waiting for their turn to speak again. This bad habit has spread with the proliferation of cell phones, texting and other forms of communication that value speed over comprehension.

The art of great leadership, though, requires active listening to go hand-in-hand with asking thoughtful questions. Inclusive leaders recognize that every team member brings unique perspectives and experiences to the table. They actively seek out and value these diverse viewpoints.

And, remember those teammates who process information differently or are less willing to speak in group settings? A strong leader is going to ask the right questions in the right environment to bring out their best efforts. Effective listening will go a long way toward creating a psychologically safe culture where people feel open to sharing ideas.

Your goal in today’s culture-centric workplace is to create a place where people feel valued, included and encouraged to contribute their best work. Conversations – asking great questions, followed by active listening – are at the center of this effort. We want to strive for authentic and transparent communications that benefit from the diverse perspectives from all team members, not the singular voice of the highest-ranking person in the room.

For more on inclusive leadership and the power of communication skills to empower leaders and teams, look for my new book The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth, co-authored with Kurt Merriweather, vice president of innovation at The Diversity Movement, published April 29.

About Donald Thompson

Donald Thompson, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 SE Award winner, founded The Diversity Movement (TDM) to fundamentally transform the modern workplace through diversity-led culture change. TDM was recently acquired by Workplace Options, which brings holistic wellbeing services to more than 80 million people in more than 200 countries and territories across the globe. Recognized by Inc., Fast Company and Forbes, Thompson is author of Underestimated: A CEO’s Unlikely Path to Success, hosts the podcast “High Octane Leadership in an Empathetic World” and has published widely on leadership and the executive mindset. As a leadership and executive coach, Thompson has created a culture-centric ethos for winning in the marketplace by balancing empathy and economics. His next book is The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth.

Follow him on LinkedIn for updates on news, events and his podcast, or contact him at info@donaldthompson.com for executive coaching, speaking engagements or DEI-related content. TDM has created LeaderView, a leadership assessment tool that uses cultural competency as a driver for improving whole team performance. To further explore DEI content and issues impacting your work and life, visit TDM Library, a multimedia resource hub that gives leaders a trusted source of DEI content.