Make yourself memorable to senior execs with these 19 questions

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·         What’s the first job of a leader in your view?

·         Excuse my temerity here: where you need to grow? (why I ask that is because if I know where you need to grow, being at your level, that might be a future goal for me at some point).

·         Dan Sullivan CEO of Strategic Coach said the first job of an entrepreneur is to protect his/her confidence – your take on that?

·         What percentage of your strengths, capabilities, resources are being exploited in your current role?

·         When you interview people, what’s would be one of your best questions?

·         What are some leadership lessons for you?

·         Over the years, have you gotten feedback from your direct reports that led to some adjustments in how you manage and lead?

·         What aspect of leadership do you like most?

·         If you wrote a book about leadership, what would be its title, sub title?

·         Are you having fun as a leader?

·         What behaviour or attitude have you used throughout your career that’s  paid off for you, and because it’s paid off for you, you continue to use it today?

·         Leading leadership authors Kouzes and Posner’r research shows that the top four characteristics of admired leaders are: Honest; Forward-looking; Inspiring; Competent. Tell me what’s your view on what makes for an inspiring leader?

·         Nobel prize winner Albert Schweitzer said in the 1950s said the problem with men, is that ‘they don’t think’. What are your thoughts on that statement?

·         At CEO Institute meeting Sydney, Australia in January 2013, a big issue that came up for the CEOs was ‘how to maintain my energy’. How do you maintain your energy?

·         What things do you do to spur innovation?

·         How has your leadership style evolved over your career?

·         What’s unusual or different about how you run your meetings with your executive teams?

·         How do you retrench someone with dignity?

·         (If the person has worked with you in the past you can also ask this question): Knowing my work can you give me feedback on where you think I need to grow as a leader?

The ‘how to apply’ for this post: For an upcoming senior executive meeting adapt the above suggestions and questions in your planning for the meeting.