Edgar Schein

Humble Inquiry

1. IDEA 1

   Ask more, tell less

   Schein argues that leaders in many cultures rely too much on telling: giving answers and instructions. He calls for humble inquiry, asking questions you do not already know the answer to, out of genuine curiosity about the other person.

2. IDEA 2

   Telling culture creates problems

   Schein argues that cultures that value telling make it hard for people to speak up. Important information gets lost. In Schein's view, when everyone waits to be told, those who know the real situation say little, and the leader misses useful facts.

3. IDEA 3

   Humility means depending on others

   Schein describes here-and-now humility, recognising that we depend on others in a given moment. Leaders often need information from subordinates. In Schein's view, a leader who admits this need can ask for help openly, and the information gained is often valuable.

All 8 ideas from Humble Inquiry →