Page 293 - Your Leader Within Introduction

CHAPTER 12: THE POWER OF QUESTIONS The Power of Questions
I once worked with a man that I would describe as one of the two strongest business leaders I have experienced. His name was Bill Herlihy. He was a District Manager at UPS and I was his Industrial Engineering Manager. Unfortunately, as he was catapulting to the top of the leadership hierarchy at UPS, he died as the result of a medical operation.
The other great leader is FedEx founder Fred Smith.
What made Bill Herlihy so powerful was the questions he asked. His questions produced consciousness, attitude and creativity. Let me explain.
Often young managers, and I was one at the time, move through their day with different attitudes or feelings. I had just been promoted and was relatively uncertain with my ability to handle the job.
When I was in that attitude, he asked questions like: “What was the result of the focus program over the last six months?” He knew that the results were very positive and the question would lift me up.
He would discern his managers’ moods and ask those questions without an obvious signal. He would pick the moods up and provide leadership intuitively.
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