Aaron Huizenga on why great leaders don’t jump to conclusions

As a leader, you are inherently required to ask questions.

If you cannot ask questions for clarity, then are you really a leader?

You need to understand the who, what, where, when and why behind a situation that requires your attention.

If you are just rushing to a solution without asking questions first, you are, by omission, undermining the very nature of your role as a leader.

In conversations and business decisions, you need to do your due diligence and investigate the reasons behind the “what” that has happened or the “what” we are going to do about it.

You need to slow down, take a step backward, then look at the bigger picture.

The situation may look different from 1,000 ft. above or completely different from 10,000 ft. above. Regardless, it is still a situation that you need to understand.

You, as the leader, need to turn over every stone that you see – and possibly stones that you don’t see. Ask the questions.

Granted, there is always something in the “he said” or “she said” that is not quantifiable that you will need to unpack.

Be genuinely curious. Find out more. Then, and only then, can you form an opinion on what happened and how you should move forward.

Sometimes there is data that can support or undermine your case. If there is, fantastic – use it. But use it carefully.

Data can show lots of options, but make sure they are the right ones. Use it and learn from it.

There can be overarching savings or earning opportunities in that data. Don’t let it go to waste.

Above all, take in the big picture. What happened? How did we get here? What went wrong? What went right? Do we repeat this or stop it dead in its tracks?

You will only know if you ask questions. Understand the full picture. Question everything.

Invest the time to know all you can before you give your opinion as the leader on the topic. It will be time well spent.

Let’s work on your upgrade.

Aaron Huizenga is East Division manager for Lakes Gas in Wisconsin. Reach him at ahuizenga@lakesgas.com.

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