Three Questions to Ask Yourself as a Leader

This episode explores three powerful questions every nonprofit leader should regularly ask to stay focused, intentional, and effective. Instead of getting caught up in external pressures, it shifts the spotlight to personal leadership, including how you show up, how you listen, and how you support others’ growth. These questions can serve as a simple but strong check-in to guide your leadership in a more authentic and impactful direction.

Connect with host Jill Fowler on LinkedIn.

This episode was brought to you by Songbird Leadership -- Amplify your organization's mission through outcome-based executive coaching, strategic planning, and capacity building.

Transcript

Thank you for joining us today. I’m your host, Jill Fowler of Songbird Leadership.

I spend a lot of time thinking about my own leadership – how things are going, what I could do differently or better, how my team is feeling, what our clients are experiencing. Because I want it all to be awesome and meaningful and impactful for everyone involved. I recently found myself thinking, “What are the most important leadership questions a nonprofit leader can routinely ask themselves as a check in?” I did some Googling and found a host of articles from various sources. Some questions were very much mission-driven. Some were related to fundraising. Others seemed to have an unhealthy competitive spirit (in my opinion). It was all over the map and all very externally based. But none focused on true leadership – the personal skills and style and nature of a true leader. So, that made me think even more and I came up with the following three questions as a start: 

Question 1: Am I leading by example? This is the foundation of authentic leadership. Your team might hear what you say, but they will feel what you do. How you show up in times of pressure, uncertainty, or celebration sets the tone for the entire organization. Are you showing the integrity, compassion, and resilience you want others to model? Or are you unintentionally sending mixed messages by saying one thing and doing another? Leading by example doesn’t mean being perfect. It means being intentional. It means owning your mistakes, being curious, and staying grounded in your values, while also being authentically you and leveraging your unique gifts.

Question 2: Am I listening more than I’m talking? Leaders often feel the need to solve, to instruct, to move things forward. But the best leadership doesn’t start with answers, it starts with curiosity. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – there is no one right way. When your automatic response is to just give direction, you’re missing out on a whole new world of possibility and perspective. Listening well also builds trust. And it helps people feel seen, heard, and valued, which is vital. So, bite your tongue, have genuine interest, and actively listen to what people are saying. It’s a game changer.

Question 3: Am I helping others grow? At the end of the day, leadership is not about how much you can do. It's about how much others can do because of your leadership. Are you investing in your team’s development? Delegating real opportunities? Celebrating growth, not just performance? A good leader delivers results. A great leader develops people. That’s your legacy.

So, there you have it. My three leadership questions.

1. Am I leading by example?
2. Am I listening more than I’m talking?
3. Am I helping others grow?

When you regularly ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly, they can serve as a compass in your leadership journey. I highly encourage you to take a quiet moment this week and reflect on them. Even better? Talk about them with your team. Or, if these questions don’t quite resonate with you, consider which ones do and use those instead. The key is to consistently reflect and grow through the use of meaningful questions. Because in the end, the questions you ask both yourself and others shape the leader you become.