[May 20, 2017] Senior leaders are often asked complex, ambiguous questions that easily trip up even the most seasoned veteran of leadership. What leaders learn, usually the hard way from blundering an answer, is that good answers require knowing how to read a question. Whether it be at a news conference, an interview, or fielding ad hoc questions from a group of professionals, getting to the right answer is difficult. Success on putting forward the best (but not always correct) answer depends on quickly understanding what the question is on its surface and on its implications.
“Question everything. Learn something. Answer nothing.” – Euripides, ancient writer of Greek tragedies
To make the challenge more difficult, we are reminded that good leadership means keeping ones answer simple, as accurate as possible, and unambiguous. Â The requirements for clarity are daunting but leaders who possess the character, commitment, and courage will prevail in the long run as they speak from within and not try to be a “fair weather” leader.
Here are some of the ways to read a question:
- Not all questions are designed to be answered literally. Often classified as a “do you still beat your wife?” question means that no matter what literal answer you give, you will be wrong. It is best in this scenario to politely dissect the question so that everyone can see through any vendetta and politely request clarification to reveal the real question.
- Some questions are designed to misdirect or distract your attention. It goes without saying that it is difficult to ascertain the validity of a question because they are often posed by those who wish to mislead us. If this were a job interview, the question would be “tell me about yourself?”
- Answers to some questions can be prohibited. Yes, there will be questions that when answered, would put a company at risk or lives in danger. The military confronts this often and the most effective and direct way to answer is to politely refuse to provide details but also give the person asking something. A leader needs a positive demeanor to pull this off successfully.
- When the question is more important than the answer. Learning to ask important questions is the best evidence of understanding there is. It can force us to reassess our position, rethink our processes, or assess our understanding of events. Some of these can halt, freeze, deflate, and derail thinking. Those are the best questions and everyone knows that when it is asked, any answer would be counterproductive. Recognizing the question for what it is and don’t answer it in the traditional manner.
There are more, of course, but I’ll stop here. Enough for today. These questions are not impossible to get through and every leader should look to gain experience answering tough questions. A leader who has built trust and confidence in others quickly will have greater tolerance of any mistake they may make in answering.
Awareness and groundwork are the keys to answering such questions. Know your profession, your limits, your opposition, and know where the pitfalls are before attempting to answer. Just like a job interview, be prepared.
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