Question And Then Question

The most effective new leaders don’t show up with the best answers, rather they come in with the best questions.

After years of working with dozens of companies—and stepping into new executive roles myself (whether it’s a familiar industry or not)—I’ve seen a common mistake repeated over and over:

New leaders come in hot. Big moves. Signature plays. That urgency is fueled by the pressure to make an immediate impact and exude immediate confidence.

But it’s often misplaced.

As Mark Twain put it:

What’s required to make things tick

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”

The leaders I’ve seen—those who actually change a business's trajectory—lead with humility. They respect the legacy, study the nuances, and prioritize deep learning before bold action.

They understand how things work.

This learning didn’t just come from observing others; I’ve made the mistake too many times myself. I assumed I knew which levers would make the biggest impact. I often recited how things worked at my last company. Instead of being considerate, I was cocky.

Believe it or not, being humble and curious always outperforms certain and confident.