Motivating through asking questions

Asking questions is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to motivate employees. It may sound trivial, but the right questions can really work wonders in the team. It’s like talking to a friend – you ask, listen, and find solutions together. Let’s see how it works in practice.

Why are questions so important?

Questions open doors to new possibilities. Thanks to them, people can feel that their opinions matter, that they have an impact on what happens. This builds trust and engagement.

Autonomy at work

When a person asks questions instead of immediately providing solutions, it gives the other person space for independent thinking. It’s like saying: ‘Hey, I believe in you. You can handle it!’ People who have the freedom to make decisions feel more responsible for their tasks.

Creativity at full throttle

Questions that encourage thinking can lead to amazing ideas. For example, the question ‘How can we do this better?’ can be the beginning of a revolution in the way we operate. Sometimes one question is enough to trigger an avalanche of new, fresh ideas.

Building trust

Asking questions is also a great way to build trust. People see that their opinion matters, that another person, leader, manager, employee, director, president really wants to hear what they have to say. This makes them feel appreciated and more connected.

How to ask questions to motivate?

1. Ask open-ended questions

  Avoid questions that can be answered with ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Open-ended questions encourage deeper reflection. Instead of asking ‘Is this project difficult?’, ask ‘What challenges are you facing in this project?’”

2. Actively listen

After asking a question, listen carefully to the answer. Show that you are genuinely interested in what the employee has to say. This builds trust and shows that you value employees’ input.

3. Give time to respond

Sometimes the best ideas require a moment of thought. Do not interrupt or push for immediate answers. Show patience and understanding.

4. Reflective questions

Questions that prompt reflection can help employees better understand themselves and their goals. For example, the question ‘What can improve your work?’ may prompt an employee to think about ways to increase their own efficiency.

5. Adjust questions to the situation

Different situations require different types of questions. In problematic situations, questions like ‘What can we do to fix this?’ may be more effective, while in the context of developing new ideas, questions like ‘What new ideas would you like to implement?’ may be more appropriate.

Examples of motivational questions

• What challenges are you facing in your project and how can we solve them together?
• What can improve your performance?
• What new ideas do you want to implement?
• How can I better support your development?
• What motivates you to take action? How can you strengthen it?

Summary

Motivating through asking questions is an effective strategy that allows individuals to build stronger, more engaged, and creative teams. Open, reflective questions support employee autonomy, stimulate their creativity, and build trust. By regularly applying this technique, leaders can create an environment where everyone feels appreciated and motivated to achieve common goals.

Paulina Zawadka 

Source: https://www.thnk.org/blog/empowered-employees-brian-finley/