Kyocera Newsletter

Building an inquiry-driven culture

One of the most underrated leadership skills isn’t knowing the answer, it’s asking the right question.

A Strategy + Business article called “Six reasons successful leaders love questions” reminds me how powerful questions can be in driving better decisions, unlocking insight, and strengthening teams. In the piece, author Pia Lauritzen reflects on what happens when you start a session not with a slide deck or pitch, but with a simple invitation: write down one important, relevant question. Within minutes, leaders become more focused, curious, and connected to the people and purpose in front of them. Questions, in other words, change everything.

At Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa, we have long believed that real value comes from listening better. In our ecosystem which is made up of partners, teams, customers, and community, being inquiry-driven helps us identify real problems instead of just symptoms. Asking questions helps us map needs rather than assumptions and solve challenges that matter instead of box dropping.

Every customer question is a data point. It’s a clue about priorities, pain points, and potential. When we collect and explore those questions systematically, we gain visibility into emerging opportunities and sharpen our ability to act with purpose. 

As Einstein famously said, if he had an hour to solve a problem, he’d spend 55 minutes working out the right question to ask. Why? Because the right question unlocks the right solution. This mindset is core to how we serve: instead of defaulting to what we know, we stay curious about what’s needed. That means asking our customers “What does success look like to you?” before offering options. It means building processes that surface insight and then act on them.  It means creating the space within our teams to ask hard questions too, not just to change others, but to improve ourselves.

The article’s author puts it simply: “no questions, no change”. And that includes our ability to adapt, grow, and lead. If we want stronger partnerships and smarter solutions, we must keep questioning. 

Because in our line of work, clarity begins with curiosity, and every breakthrough starts with someone brave enough to ask a helpful question. 

Ian Dury - Business Support Manager - Kyocera Document Solutions South Africa