The most important question every leader should ask
This episode was recorded in German.
Good leadership starts with a good question
Leadership today means providing direction more than ever, in a world full of uncertainty, technological upheaval, and constant change. But how do you do that? Antonia Götsch, executive advisor, former editor-in-chief of Harvard Business Manager, and host of the podcast „Wegen guter Führung“, talks with Christian Underwood about why good leadership doesn't start with answers, but with the right questions.
Decisions need room to breathe
Leaders make decisions every day that have far-reaching consequences. Yet the questions that really matter often go unasked, either out of fear of the consequences or simply because the daily rush leaves no room for reflection. That's why Antonia Götsch argues for deliberately slowing leadership down. Better decisions require time to think, honest exchange, and a protected space where uncomfortable topics can be named. Strategic clarity doesn't emerge under time pressure. It comes from deliberately questioning your own assumptions.
Good leadership starts with leading yourself
For Antonia Götsch, effective leadership is inseparable from self-leadership. If you want to lead others, you first have to understand your own motives, thought patterns, and reactions. Especially in difficult situations, good leadership isn't determined by your first impulse, but by your ability to create a moment of reflection between stimulus and response. That's exactly where better decisions, and personal growth, come from.
The power of good questions
One central message of this episode: good leadership starts with a good question.
Open, non-judgmental questions create new perspectives, widen the space for thinking, and help develop solutions instead of delivering premature answers. At the same time, companies need a culture where uncomfortable questions are welcome. Organizations rarely fail because no one sees the problems. They fail because no one says them out loud. If you take leadership seriously, don't just expect answers: encourage people to ask the right questions.
AI is changing leadership, but not replacing it
Artificial intelligence also plays an important role in this episode. Antonia Götsch sees AI as a valuable tool for analyzing information faster and supporting decision-making. But the actual work of leadership remains human: listening, building trust, bringing different perspectives together, and asking the right questions at the decisive moments. Precisely because technology keeps getting more powerful, empathy, dialogue, and real human encounters matter more than ever.
Change starts 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 deliberately chose a fresh start. She describes vividly how closely professional change is tied to questions of identity, and why growth often begins where security ends. Her most important advice: make decisions based on what fits your own personality and values, not on what others expect.
Who this episode is for
This episode is for entrepreneurs, managing directors, and leaders who want to make better decisions, reflect on their leadership, and strengthen the human factor in an increasingly technological world. It shows why good strategy and good leadership always start with your own mindset, and why the right questions are often worth more than quick answers.
🚀 Listen now and find out why good leadership always starts with a good question.
SHOW NOTES
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
“Hope Is Not a Strategy” magazine https://shop.strategyframe.ai/products/hoffnung-ist-keine-strategie-ii-1-strategic-decision-intelligence
Podcast “Wegen Guter Führung” https://antoniagoetsch.de/de/podcast-newsletter