Building the confidence of our direct reports plays a large part in how quickly and healthily we can grow the capability and capacity of our people. So here’s a question we can use regularly in conversations that builds the person’s confidence — to know that they can work out what needs to happen and to show them that we trust they can figure it out.

We tend to jump to solution mode for the other person. While we think we’re being helpful, it diminishes the emotional attachment that comes from designing our own solutions — essential for follow through. Trust the other person knows what would work better next time and you’ll notice their confidence rise.