As I look back on 2024, there’s one question I keep coming back to. It’s a question brimming with possibility for anyone looking to make a bigger impact in 2025.
“What is it like to be them?”
🎯 Why this is so powerful?
Don’t let its simplicity fool you. The best questions are the short ones… that we ask ourselves.
Our first job as leaders is to influence ourselves. A simple, powerful question like this shifts our attention to a productive place - out of our own heads and into the world of the other. That’s precisely where we want to be if we want to deepen our influence and have a meaningful impact.
🔍 Why this question works so well
→ It fuels empathy by focusing on the other’s experience.
→ It uncovers insights as we contemplate their motivations and challenges.
→ It regulates our emotions by shifting focus away from our inner world.
→ It strengthens our influence by helping us see their cares and needs.
→ It inspires service and love, building trust and helping us bring our best.
(Yes, I just used the “L” word. This isn’t just about commercial influence. If we can’t use a tool in good conscience with our nearest and dearest, we should question whether we should be using it at all.)
For me, this question has a permanent place in my toolbox. Every time I ask, “What is it like to be them?” I see a productive shift in how I engage.
📌 The bottom line
This one question can elevate our leadership, grow our influence and make us a better boss, colleague, friend, partner and parent - even in the most strained of relationships.
🛠️ What if this question became part of your pre-meeting routine?
Future you will thank you for adding it to your toolbox in 2025.
Is this a question you already use - or one you could see yourself using in 2025?
