The most important question every leader should ask themselves
Good leadership starts with a good question
Today more than ever, leadership means providing direction—in a world full of uncertainty, technological upheaval, and constant change. But how can this be achieved? Antonia Götsch, Executive Advisor, former editor-in-chief of *Harvard Business Manager*, and host of the podcast “Wegen guter Führung,” explains in a conversation with Christian Underwood why good leadership doesn’t start with answers, but with the right questions.
Decisions Need Space
Every day, leaders make decisions that have far-reaching consequences. Yet it is precisely the truly important questions that often go unasked—out of fear of the consequences or simply because there is no room for reflection amid the hectic pace of everyday life. Antonia Götsch therefore advocates consciously slowing down the pace of leadership. Anyone who wants to make better decisions needs time to think, honest dialogue, and a safe space where even uncomfortable topics can be discussed. After all, strategic clarity doesn’t come from working under time pressure, but from consciously questioning one’s own assumptions.
Good leadership begins with self-leadership
For Antonia Götsch, effective leadership is inextricably linked to self-leadership. Anyone who wants to lead others must first understand their own motives, thought patterns, and reactions. Especially in challenging situations, it is not the first impulse that determines good leadership, but rather the ability to allow a moment of reflection to arise between stimulus and response. That is precisely where better decisions—and personal growth—emerge.
The Power of Good Questions
A key message of the episode is: Good leadership starts with a good question.
Open-ended, value-neutral questions create new perspectives, broaden the scope of thinking, and help develop solutions rather than providing hasty answers. At the same time, companies need a culture in which even uncomfortable questions are welcome. After all, organizations often fail not because no one recognizes the problems—but because no one voices them. Anyone who takes leadership seriously should therefore not only expect answers but also encourage people to ask the right questions.
AI is changing leadership—but it isn't replacing it
Artificial intelligence also plays an important role in the episode. Antonia Götsch sees AI as a valuable tool for analyzing information more quickly and supporting decision-making processes. However, the true essence of leadership remains human: listening, building trust, bringing together different perspectives, and asking the right questions at crucial moments. Precisely because technology is becoming increasingly powerful, empathy, dialogue, and genuine interactions continue to grow in importance.
Change begins with a decision
A particularly compelling part of the conversation is Antonia’s personal story. After six years as editor-in-chief of *Harvard Business Manager*, she made a conscious decision to start over. She powerfully describes how closely career changes are linked to questions of personal identity and why growth often begins where security ends. Her most important piece of advice: Decisions should not be based on what others expect, but on what aligns with one’s own personality and values.
For whom this episode is worthwhile
This episode is aimed at entrepreneurs, CEOs, and executives who want to make better decisions, reflect on their leadership, and strengthen the human element in an increasingly technological world. It shows why good strategy and good leadership always start with one’s own attitude—and why the right questions are often more valuable than quick answers.
🚀 Listen now and discover why good leadership always starts with a good question.
SHOWNOTES
Antonia Götsch https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonia-goetsch/
Antonia Götsch https://antoniagoetsch.de/de
Christian Underwood https://www.linkedin.com/in/christianunderwood/
Strategic Decision Intelligence: https://strategicdecisionintelligence.ai
Magazine “Hope Is Not a Strategy” https://shop.strategyframe.ai/products/hoffnung-ist-keine-strategie-ii-1-strategic-decision-intelligence
Podcast “Because of Good Leadership” https://antoniagoetsch.de/de/podcast-newsletter