What if the right question changed everything?

Discover 99 next-level questions that create clarity, build trust, and drive results... without adding another meeting or memo.

http://www.NextQuestionGuide.com

Episode Synopsis

When James was being considered for a bigger role early in his career, his boss asked, “What do you want to do?” The question was well-intentioned but lacked context, trust, and direction. This episode exposes a common leadership blind spot: founders often expect confident answers from their teams without first creating the environment for honest dialogue. It’s not about asking better questions — it’s about creating the conditions for real answers.

Key Message: You can’t expect truth when people don’t feel safe or clear enough to share it.

Episode 50: Why Your Team Won’t Say What They’re Really Thinking

Episode 4 in the series Engaged Leaders

“What do you want to do?”

It sounds simple, but when asked without context or trust, it shuts people down.

In this episode, James shares a personal story from early in his career that exposes a leadership blind spot: founders and leaders often expect clarity they haven’t created. You’ll learn how to ask questions that invite honesty instead of hesitation — and how to build the kind of environment where people speak the truth even when it’s hard.

This episode is for founders who are tired of surface-level answers and want their teams to think, speak, and act with conviction.

• Why leaders get vague answers from smart people
• How to set context that draws out confident ideas
• The difference between asking and earning clarity
• What happens when people don’t feel safe enough to speak up

Reflection Questions

• Where are you frustrated by vague answers but haven’t provided enough context for clarity?
• What would change if you painted a clearer picture before asking for input?

Links and Resources

• The Next Question Guide → NextQuestionGuide.com
• LinkedIn → linkedin.com/in/jamesmayhew
• Website → JamesMayhew.com