In this launch episode of I Have Some Questions…, Erik Berglund sets the stage for a podcast built on one radical belief: that great leadership begins not with answers, but with better questions. He shares the personal journey that led him to this insight, the mission behind the show, and what listeners can expect from future episodes—interviews, solo deep dives, and a whole lot of leadership exploration.
❓ The Big Question
What if asking better questions is the most powerful leadership skill no one ever taught us?
💡 Key Takeaways
- Curiosity, not charisma, is the underrated cornerstone of great leadership.
- Most pivotal leadership moments begin with a powerful question—not a polished answer.
- Many essential leadership skills (like balancing empathy with accountability) aren’t taught, but they can be explored through inquiry.
- Lead with Questions will blend interviews with solo explorations to uncover the “why” behind powerful leadership decisions.
🧠 Concepts, Curves, and Frameworks
- Language of Leadership: A business Erik founded to help leaders refine what they say and how they say it.
- Speechcraft: A tool using AI roleplay to enhance soft skills like leadership and difficult conversations.
- The Unspoken Curriculum: The leadership lessons no one teaches—like how to unlock others’ potential or what “accountability” really means.
🔁 Real-Life Reflections
- Erik’s leadership journey began at 18, managing a house painting crew, which planted the seeds of his curiosity-driven approach.
- He later scaled to leading sales teams and eventually left corporate to coach and build leadership-focused ventures.
- Key turning points often came from internal questions, not external accolades.
🧰 Put This Into Practice
- Reflect on your own leadership journey: What moments were shaped by powerful questions?
- Ask yourself: What have I been told to do as a leader that no one actually taught me how to do?
- Identify one question you’d love to hear answered on the podcast and send it Erik’s way.
- Challenge your team with a curiosity-driven prompt this week—see what emerges.
🗣️ Favorite Quotes
“I think curiosity and good questions is the core skill for leadership.”
“I can’t guarantee we’ll always get to the bottom of an answer. But ideally, we’ll build better frameworks—and better questions.”
