"...Implementation facilitates the necessary shift from “telling” leaders what to do to “inquiring” about the thinking that informs their decision-making...Directive dialogue teaches your direct reports about how you think. Inquiry creates the opportunity for your direct reports to slow down and gain insight into how they think. When you engage with direct reports, inquire about the beliefs that underpin their assumptions. Avoid questions that begin with “why,” as they tend to place people on the defensive and stifle dialogue. Instead, ask questions that begin with “how” or “what.” For instance, “What assumptions lead you to that conclusion?” Based on their response, continue to explore their answers from a place of curiosity, not judgment" (HBS, 7 December 21)