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Socrates: asking questions
 
 
 
 

Sharp thinking

 
Date: 06-Jun-07   European Business Forum
 
Top leaders adopt the Socratic method of falsification to encourage people to think more sharply and justify their points of view.

A good leader acts as the chief questioner, asking whether something that seems to be true may not be or whether something that seems untrue is true. Leaders must encourage people to ask questions and be unafraid to show doubt.

They can also drive new thinking by matching employees with interesting and knowledgeable individuals outside corporate walls. People must know that they are investigating something for a purpose, otherwise, the Socratic method of questioning could encourage them to second-guess one another, creating a negative back-stabbing culture.

Former IBM head Lou Gerstner used to encourage his staff to engage in simple conversations, and not waste time planning elaborate presentations.

The leader as Socrates,

Lynda Gratton,

European Business Forum, Issue 28, Spring 2007

 
 
 

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