A simple rule: Listen more than you talk.

Most leaders talk too much. I don’t mean they’re bad people. I mean they confuse speaking with leading. One of the clearest signs of a strong leader is this: they listen. You should be listening far more than you’re talking. If your voice fills most of the meeting, you’re missing something. The goal isn’t to prove you’re smart. The goal is to learn what you don’t know.

When you do speak, ask open-ended questions. Not questions that steer people toward your answer, but questions that open the room. “What are we missing?” “What concerns you?” “What opportunity are we not seeing?” “If this goes really well, what does that look like?” “What would make this great?” These kinds of questions surface risk and possibility at the same time. Avoid the leading question that makes it clear what you want to hear. “We all agree this is the best path, right?” That’s not curiosity. That’s pressure. And people will adjust their answers to match you.

The most valuable information in the room is the information you don’t already have. The quiet doubt. The bold idea. The upside no one has named yet. Look around. Who hasn’t spoken? Invite them in. Not to put them on the spot, but to make space. Some of the best insights come from the person who needed a direct invitation. Yes, there’s a time to be directive. When a decision is made, say it clearly and move. But if you’re mostly curious and only occasionally directive, your words will carry real weight. You already know what you know. Your job is to uncover what you don’t.