The Question You're Too Afraid to Ask (But Should)

CEOs love to talk about vision, strategy, and innovation.

But when was the last time you asked the real question that could transform your business?

“What are we afraid to say out loud?”

This question isn’t for the faint of heart.

It’s for leaders who are ready to face the hard truths holding their companies back, or sourcing ambitious objectives.

It’s the question that will expose the hidden assumptions, sacred cows, and outdated playbooks lurking in your organization.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. No, you can’t avoid it.

When you have the guts to ask this question, you create a culture where breakthroughs happen.

Teams get real.

Challenges become solvable.

And opportunities you didn’t even know existed come into focus.

Let me give you an example. 

One of my CEO clients faced a daunting decision during the pandemic.

Everything shut down. Social distancing. No gathering.

His whole business was built on in-person gatherings!

You can see the dilemma they faced.

What were they afraid to say out loud?

We either change the vision of the company or we die.

My client made the bold decision on the first Friday of lockdown!

He changed his company’s mission. The company pivoted to online events in less than one week.

They were all about connections and relationships, and had demonized online meeting.

Not only did it save the business, but that decision expanded its impact by enabling global accessibility.

How can you incorporate this into your own efforts?

1. Ask the Question: Start with your leadership team. Be direct. Give them space to answer honestly. And remember that your job is to listen, not to defend.

2. Embrace the Awkward: If the answers don’t sting a little, you’re not digging deep enough. Keep going until you’ve uncovered the real issues.

3. Act on the Truth: Identifying the problem is step one. The real power comes from addressing it head-on. Make a plan and execute.

Growth doesn’t come from comfort.

It comes from having the courage to face what’s uncomfortable.

So, what’s your team afraid to say out loud?

Chances are, that’s exactly where your next breakthrough lies.

When you’re ready to discover your genius, here’s how I can help you:

1. Coaching. Schedule a session to find your superpower.

2. Genius Talent Discovery Program. Embark on a transformative journey toward realizing your limitless capabilities.

3. The Little Book of Big Scale. Draw insights from more than 275 CEO interviews that focus entirely on counterintuitive methods for growing your business.

Go forth & scale,

— John Hittler