Do you ever find it easier to focus on what is in your way, rather than what is it going to take to overcome the challenge?

It is in our natural wiring to not take responsibility for problems. Often, teams will talk about why they lack confidence in why something is concerning them.

While their reasoning is solid, the problem is they stop with the justification.

Shift the focus by asking a question which shifts their perspective to solutions. One of my defaults is something like, “What needs to be different to give you confidence?”

The other week a team lead gave me a new favourite of mine: “What do you need to get done today to give you confidence the longer term goal is achievable?”

The team has more answers than they are giving themselves credit for. Help them lead themselves past what has them stuck.

Who says you have to do all the leading?

You’ve got this.