Leadership Lab: Engage The Power of Questions to Reshape Your Ministry
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"Leadership is not as much about knowing the right answers
as it is about asking the right questions!"
Bob Tiede
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{ Designerd for Personal Growth, Teacher Training, Planning Teams }
Coaching Questions for Leadership
Questions for Your Reimagine Journey
#ReimagineMINISTRY: Use Questions
5 Questions to Ask God by Judy Douglass - #ReimaginePRAYER...
Questions to #ReimagineEVANGELISM...
{with appreciation to Bob Tiede @ Leading With Questions}
BONUS Content >>>SCROLL for RELATED COMMENTARY by GUEST-POSTERS + FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
Involve Others
Excerpted with permission from the the 4th Chapter of “The Art of Trust Building” by Dennis & Michelle Reina
Involve Others and Seek Their Input
Thomas was leading a high-stakes product launch that could shape the company’s future. Instead of relying solely on his expertise, he brought his team in as true partners. In a key strategy meeting, he asked, “What challenges do you see? What ideas do you have to make this launch a success?”
Though hesitant at first, the team soon uncovered crucial insights: Daniela flagged a messaging gap that could have alienated customers, and Jorge spotted a logistical issue that could have delayed the launch.
Thanks to their insights, Thomas adjusted the plan and steered clear of those risks. When the launch succeeded, Thomas didn’t take the spotlight—he stood before the team and said, “This success belongs to all of us.”
The true win wasn’t just a flawless product release—it was a team transformed: more confident, more committed, and more connected than ever.
By seeking input, Thomas did more than just make decisions. He built trust. He deepened relationships. And most importantly, he fostered a culture of shared ownership. When people feel heard, it activates a powerful chain reaction—engagement grows, collaboration deepens, and everyone is more likely to bring their best thinking to the table.
Think about a time when someone asked for your opinion. How did it feel? Empowering? Validating? Being invited to contribute is more than acknowledgment—it’s a reminder that your voice matters.
Now, reflect on a time when you sought someone else’s input. How did their insights help you? Perhaps they helped you see a challenge more clearly, uncover new options, or find a better path forward.
Every time we exchange ideas, we strengthen trust, deepen connection, and fuel creativity—the very foundation of lasting collaboration.
Now, let’s explore the art of involving others and how mastering this practice can transform the quality of your relationships.
The Art of Involving Others and Seeking Their Input
The art of involving others is rooted in intentionality—a courageous choice to create a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared ownership. When you ask for someone’s input, invite their perspective, or better yet, brainstorm together, you’re sending a powerful message: their experience, creativity, and judgment matter. That’s because the act of asking for input can have profound effects.
But here’s the key: it must be authentic. Asking for input without true openness—what some would call “lip service”—can backfire. If people share their thoughts and feel ignored or dismissed, it chips away at trust. They might feel undervalued, disheartened, or disillusioned, disengaging over time. The next time you ask for their involvement, they may withdraw or offer only minimal effort, undermining the potential for meaningful collaboration and success.
True involvement requires reflection, compassion, and the willingness to act on what you hear—because inviting someone’s perspective is not just an action; it’s a relationship built on mutual respect and courage. In essence, involving others creates a virtuous cycle: trust begets trust, and collaboration fosters growth.
The true art of involvement requires genuine curiosity, openness, and respect for the contributions of others. Involving others and seeking their input is about more than solving a single problem; it cultivates a culture rich in trust, creativity, and mutual respect.
When you embrace diverse perspectives and encourage genuine collaboration, you unlock the full potential of your team and relationships. This practice not only improves results but also lays the groundwork for a more connected and productive future.
Mastering the Art of Involving Others and Seeking Their Input
Mastering the art of involving others starts with intention and is carried out with thoughtful, consistent actions that strengthen trust and collaboration. Based on our research and real-world experience, here’s how you can do it well:
Clarify your intentions and stay open. Be clear about what you’re aiming to achieve but stay open to new ideas and perspectives you didn’t anticipate.
Invite and welcome diverse voices. Step outside your comfort zone to seek out different viewpoints with genuine curiosity. Listen fully—even when others’ input challenges your assumptions.
Act on what you hear. Acknowledge others’ input, show how it influenced the outcome, and stay transparent. Trust grows when people see that their voice matters.
Appreciate every contribution. Thank people sincerely for their ideas, effort, and courage. Gratitude strengthens connection and invites future collaboration.
Involving others isn’t just a leadership skill—it’s a life skill. Whether at work, at home, or in your community, seeking and valuing input builds trust, strengthens connection, and leads to better outcomes for everyone.
Click HERE to purchase your “The Art of Trusting Building” book today!
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Dennis & Michelle Reina
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Four Questions that #Reimagine Conversations - Conflicts
— November 17, 2022 —
Thanksgiving & Four Deadly Questions
Several years ago, a political subject came up at my Thanksgiving table. (Imagine that …) Someone asserted – unapologetically, if not outright defiantly – that she was pro-choice. The discussion took the typical politics-at-the-table turn: a moment of stunned silence followed by volleys of mostly stock soundbites defending opposite sides of the divide until the volleys ended in a kind of “agree to disagree” truce.
From a relational standpoint, especially in a family, an “agree to disagree” truce is certainly preferable to pressing an issue to the point of damaging a relationship. A large gathering is rarely conducive to helpful engagement, anyway. That said, helpful engagement, where possible, is preferable to a permanent standoff. Truth matters, and as the English philosopher John Stuart Mill said, truth always profits from its collision with falsehood.
I followed up later with my pro-choice friend, one-on-one. I asked her to help me understand her point of view. Why did she take the pro-choice position? She told me a story about a child who had been abused and concluded, “Some people should not be allowed to have children.” While I could certainly agree that some people make unfit parents, this was the extent of her reasoning for abortion on demand. I found myself asking, that’s it?
That was it. I was unpersuaded, but the impasse that ensued was no longer the typical “agree-to-disagree” silent truce. I had invited her to make her case and heard it out. For the record, she has never asked me to make mine.
Nancy Fitzgerald, who teaches worldview and apologetics to high schoolers, identifies “Four Deadly Questions” everyone should have on standby for times when a disputed issue emerges. Here they are:
1. What do you mean by that?
2. How did you come to that conclusion?
3. Where do you get your information?
4. What if you’re wrong?
Note that Question #1 is simply a request for clarification. Question #2 is a request for reasoning. These are invitations to “help me understand” and to “show me why I should take your point of view.” Both are respectful and should be asked respectfully. A good rule of thumb when a contentious topic arises is to never respond with a statement when a question will do. In a group setting, sometimes an escalating situation can be quelled with something like, “I’d be interested to hear more about that, but can we take it up later?”
Handling these matters always involves judgment calls, but as I have asked questions like these, I have often been quite surprised at the shallowness of the answers I’ve heard – if the answers even come at all. This has held true whether the subject at hand is abortion, hard atheism, or some fashionable, politically charged slogan like “defund the police.”
What’s different about my post-Thanksgiving dinner exchange from the stock “agree to disagree” impasse is that it left the door open for further discussion. For the record, she has not wanted to discuss the subject anymore. I would venture to say, nonetheless, that truth has profited from the collision.
I usually send these communiques on Thursdays, but I will not be sending one next week. I hope your Thanksgiving weekend is rich with family, friends, fellowship, and gratitude. And if a contentious subject comes up, I hope Nancy’s four deadly questions help you feel more equipped to respond in a way that contends for the truth as peaceably and profitably as possible.
Thank you for reading and supporting Salvo,