Inquiry, Leadership, and Empowerment by AJ Frigillana

As a leader, have you ever felt the pressure of needing to have all the answers? Have you ever felt like you’ve run out of advice to give when problem solving with your team? I know I have! 

I recently joined Coro Northern California’s Workforce Leadership Network and this program has been so helpful in reframing the way I look at leadership. It also introduced me to the idea of “inquiry”. As someone who has been tasked with problem solving at almost every level of my leadership journey, I’ve often felt like if I didn't immediately have the correct answers, I didn’t even have a chance at solving the problem before me. Practicing inquiry has allowed me to take a step back, really assess a challenge before jumping to a solution, and reminds me that I am surrounded by experts who can help find a way forward.

So, what is inquiry? It’s the idea that a leader does not have to have all the answers! With inquiry, you don’t necessarily have to be an expert in the context of the problem. You’re also focusing on the person with the problem and assuming that they have the answer- you just need to support them in drawing it out. Inquiry and leadership go hand-in-hand!

When someone approaches you with a problem, your first instinct might be to offer them advice! While this is one way to support your team, practicing inquiry empowers someone to access the answers they have within. It’s the same as giving a person a fish versus teaching them to fish! Before we explore an inquiry tool, let’s take a look at advice vs. inquiry:

The practice of inquiry is accompanied by the “4WH” tool:

4WH

Using the 4WH tool allows us to get the most accurate, verifiable description of events so that we can work with the data to reach a solution. This tool can be used anywhere from coaching sessions to team meetings. It can support your growth as a leader, and as you support your team in finding their answers, it can also empower them to grow. Where might you practice inquiry?