Investigative Leadership

by Jean Houston Shore, CSP, CPA, MBA
Copyright 2000

"One measure of excellent leaders is the competence of those they leave behind."

Have you noticed that many outspoken "tell-it-like-it-is" leaders have suddenly grown quiet? Now maybe some of them are simply at a loss for words, unable to defend industry's recent taste for downsizing. Others may have grown tired of their own empty promises. But some of today's most successful leaders are advocating a less wordy strain of leadership. They are becoming more than instigators; they are becoming investigators.

In a position of leadership you have a difficult task indeed. To be effective in your role you cannot rely only on the skills you developed years ago. Must you abandon everything that has worked for you in the past, everything that seems to come so naturally? No. But you must add to your knowledge base continually, acquiring the new skills that will help you prosper in your leadership future.

While the leader of past generations needed to know all the answers, today's leader must ask excellent questions. Yesterday's leader had to be a problem-fixer, while today's leader may only be a problem-finder. The leader of the past exercised control; today's leader must exercise creativity and encourage creativity in others. Yesterday's leader could be satisfied by giving orders. Today's leader must gather options and opinions.

Here's how you can start communicating more effectively right away.

Begin to think of yourself as an investigator, not an answer-giver. After all, you are developing the people in your organization. One measure of excellent leaders is the competence of those they leave behind.
Start asking more open-ended questions to ferret out information. (Open-ended questions are the ones that start with Who, What, Where, When, Why or How.)
Challenge yourself to be more analytical, more objective, and more observant. Try to separate yourself from the emotions of the moment, and you will find yourself better equipped to interpret without bias.
Watch body language.
Listen for tone of voice.
Begin to notice what people DON’T say as well as what they do.

Then, when you find yourself having to make those critical decisions that are the REAL reason you are in leadership, you will be ready. If you have investigated thoroughly and have learned by asking excellent questions, you have only to find some uninterrupted time to think and your strategic path will be clear.

The keys for succeeding in today's business environment are not easily uncovered. In these changing times, you must don an investigator's hat. Communicating clearly means setting aside your first reaction, cultivating new approaches, and being courageous enough to improve yourself and your skills.