Five Questions to Foster Courage and Clarity in Leadership

In this episode, which originally aired back in 2021, we share a conversation with founder Brian Schubring and former consultant Melissa Hiatt about five essential questions leaders can use to foster courage and gain clarity in their leadership. Through stories and practical advice, we reveal how understanding the broader context of one’s journey can unlock multiple choices and strategies for overcoming challenges.

You’ll hear how these questions prompt leaders to recount their stories, uncover hidden concerns, and expand their perspectives, ultimately leading to greater success and emotional health. This conversation is a treasure trove for leaders looking to understand their fears, define success, seek necessary support, and set effective boundaries to build a positive team culture. Enjoy!

Five Questions to Foster Courage and Clarity in Leadership

We use these five questions to foster courage and clarity in leadership. Rooted in addressing fears, defining success, seeking support, and setting boundaries, they serve as powerful tools for cultivating courage and clarity. We believe they can guide leaders through complex emotional landscapes, enhancing personal growth and effective team leadership.

We like to utilize these questions both internally within our teams and externally with our clients. They provide a structured approach for managing emotions, defining success, seeking support, and setting effective boundaries. And while our conversation focused on individuals, these questions are equally powerful when applied to teams.

Question 1: What Brought You Here?

This question is about understanding your foundation. It’s critical to understand the fears and concerns that could be driving your actions. This type of foundation can often lead people to believe they have no other choices. Identifying these fears can open the pathway to addressing deeper emotional issues, and can allow leaders to be more effective.

Practical Application

In our conversation, Melissa recalls instances where identifying these fears transformed the outlook of her clients. For example, when she worked with Brian, she navigated through his frustrations by directly addressing his fears. This helped him realize his true concerns and enabled proactive rather than reactive decision-making.

Question 2: What Are Your Fears and Concerns?

This question encourages leaders to recognize their fundamental fears. Understanding these fears, whether they are identity-based or contextual, can provide a clearer picture of why specific situations trigger anxiety. This understanding fosters a more profound engagement with the leader’s authentic self and how they manage their team’s dynamics.

Integrating Fears into Leadership

Many leaders falsely pride themselves on not being driven by emotions. However, acknowledging one’s fears enables leaders to operate more authentically and effectively.

Question 3: What Would Make This Successful?

Asking what success looks like can often provide relief and clarity. Leaders must push beyond theoretical goals and define practical, tangible outcomes. Remember to spell out success metrics explicitly with your team to ensure that your goals align with individual and team values.

Scaling Success

Try breaking down success into smaller, manageable goals. For example, respecting each other in a 30-minute meeting can clarify expectations and make larger objectives more attainable.

Question 4: What Support Do You Need?

Identifying the support you need is critical for leaders. Clear communication about needed assistance streamlines expectations and can prevent blame-shifting and miscommunications within a team. It can also help align efforts toward shared success.

Support Types

Understanding the necessary support types—whether personal mentorship or task-specific help—can facilitate a more collaborative and productive environment.

Question 5: What Boundaries Need to Be Put in Place?

Our final question addresses the often misunderstood concept of boundaries. Boundaries should aim for healthy connection rather than disconnection. They are personal commitments rather than dictates imposed on others.

Creating Constructive Boundaries

Healthy boundaries involve mutual agreement and accountability. They protect individual well-being while fostering strong, integrated relationships within the team. Setting boundaries should stem from internal commitment rather than external enforcement.

Courage and Clarity in Your Leadership

We think it’s important for leaders to reflect on what courage looks like at any given moment. As you navigate new challenges, consider how these five questions can help you clarify and focus on achievable goals.

How can we help you gain courage and clarity in your leadership? We’d love to hear from you! Connect with me at nathan@leadershipvisionconsulting.com.