Explanation:
1. What can I do to help?
Your project team is used to you asking them to finish a task or give you a status update. However, what if you turned things around for a moment and asked how you can help them?
The key to this question is to listen carefully and work to fulfill their request if possible.
Sometimes our project team members need help getting answers from another department or even some backup when it comes to dealing with a difficult group. Support your team — it’ll pay off for the project and will build greater trust.
2. How can I improve as a project manager?
Granted, you’re probably asking this of someone who has never been a project manager.
However, asking this question achieves two things: One, the answer may provide you with valuable insights you can use to elevate your project leadership. Two, it communicates that you care enough about your team and the project to seek input and to improve as a project manager.
3. Are there any issues that need attention that I haven’t mentioned lately? If so, how would you address them?
Since you’re not always in the details of each task, you won’t see every issue that comes up. To find out what’s really going on, consider asking this of team members individually.
Some might not feel comfortable mentioning team conflicts in front of others, or they might be concerned that a particular issue makes them look like they’re not doing their job well. As you receive this new information, ask for recommendations on how to resolve the issue. Whenever possible, support that team member by helping them fix the problem.
4. In a perfect world, how would you…?
You likely have a few project team members who complain about updating tasks in your company’s project management system, about too many meetings, or other aspects of the project. When they complain, ask how they would handle that situation.
By soliciting their input, you’re showing you respect them and are willing to listen to their suggestions. When possible, see if you can accommodate their requests.
If you can’t change the process, empathize with them and acknowledge their frustrations. This probably won’t keep them from voicing their opinions about that process again, but at least they’ll know you listened and tried to find a way to accommodate them. That builds goodwill and additional trust in the relationship.
The simple act of asking a probing question, listening carefully to the responses, and acting on that new information is a powerful leadership tool.
You’ll learn from your team and will build greater trust with them in the process. That comes in handy as issues arise and your team needs to pull together to finish the project successfully.
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