about...?” is the cheddar on the

mousetrap.

Now, there’s a time and a place for giving advice. The goal here
isn’t to avoid ever providing an answer. But it is to get better at
having people find their own answers. So here’s your new habit:

WHEN THIS HAPPENS...
Someone gives you a call/drops by your cubicle/shouts out across
the office/sends you a text message and asks, “How do I [insert
query most likely to sucker you in]?”

INSTEAD OF...
Giving her the answer...

I WILL...
Say, “That’s a great question. I’ve got some ideas, which I’ll share
with you. But before I do, what are your first thoughts?”
And when she answers, which she will, you’ll nod your head
and be engaged and interested, and when she finishes, say, “That’s
terrific. What else could you do?”
More nodding, more being interested.
Then say, “This is all good. Is there anything else you could try
here?”
And then, and only then, you can add your own idea into the
mix if you wish. And of course, if the conversation is going well,
keep asking “And what else?” until she has run out of ideas.