Why are we passionate about this?

Michael Marquardt is Professor Emeritus of Human and Organizational Learning at George Washington University, where he directed the Global Certificate and Executive Leadership Programs. He's a Co-founder and first President of the World Institute for Action Learning. Dr. Marquardt has authored 27 books and his publications has sold over a million copies. Bob Tiede is on the U.S. Leadership Development Team at Cru, an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization. His blog, LeadingWithQuestions.com is in its 11th year and followed by Leaders in over 190 countries. Bob is the author of Great Leaders ASK Questions, Little Book of Big Leading With Questions Quotes, and 262 Questions Paul the Apostle of Christ Asked.


We wrote

Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask

By Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede,

Book cover of Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask

What is our book about?

Over the past 20 years, since the 1st edition was written, we've continued our love for questions and sought…

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The books we picked & why

Book cover of Power Questions: Build Relationships, Win New Business, and Influence Others

Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede Why did I love this book?

Reading a list of great questions by themselves, most often, does not motivate me to ask any of them.

But reading stories, sharing how a great question was discovered or how asking it has changed the person asked or changed a relationship or resulted in a successful outcome, instantly motivates me to find someone I can ask! Power Questions shares 30-plus stories that will instantly have you wanting to find someone to ask that same question!

By Andrew Sobel, Jerold Panas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Power Questions as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An arsenal of powerful questions that will transform every conversation

Skillfully redefine problems. Make an immediate connection with anyone. Rapidly determine if a client is ready to buy. Access the deepest dreams of others. Power Questions sets out a series of strategic questions that will help you win new business and dramatically deepen your professional and personal relationships. The book showcases thirty-five riveting, real conversations with CEOs, billionaires, clients, colleagues, and friends. Each story illustrates the extraordinary power and impact of a thought-provoking, incisive power question. To help readers navigate a variety of professional challenges, over 200 additional, thought-provoking questions…


Book cover of Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone

Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede Why did I love this book?

 In story after story Mark shares that the key to connecting with people is to be “More Interested Than Interesting.” 

The author shares a multitude of thoughtful questions, that you will certainly want to begin to employ to communicate your interest in others. And of course, the reason I love Just Listen is that no one will ever become great at “Leading with Questions” without becoming a great listener!

When your family/staff/ friends feel heard, your relational effectiveness will skyrocket! 

By Mark Goulston,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Just Listen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Getting through to someone is a critical, fine art. Whether you are dealing with a harried colleague, a stressed-out client, or an insecure spouse, things will go from bad to worse if you can't break through emotional barricades and get your message thoroughly communicated and registered.

Drawing on his experience as a psychiatrist, business consultant, and coach, author Mark Goulston combines his background with the latest scientific research to help you turn the "impossible" and "unreachable" people in their lives into allies, devoted customers, loyal colleagues, and lifetime friends.

In Just Listen, Goulston provides simple yet powerful techniques you can…


Book cover of The Art of People: 11 Simple People Skills That Will Get You Everything You Want

Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede Why did I love this book?

Over and over Dave shares incredible stories and the questions he used to connect with people – even people he initially didn’t like, by asking them thoughtful questions – questions that you will be eager to put into use to enhance your people skills! We also think that we share the same DNA as Dave Kerpen! 

By Dave Kerpen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'This book is like How to Win Friends and Influence People - only better suited for today's world' - ADAM GRANT, author of Give and Take and Originals

'People skills can't be computerized, outsourced, or reduced to a rubric. That's why The Art of People is more important now than ever - it will teach you a set of irreplaceable skills that will help you in every area of your life' - DANIEL H. PINK, author of To Sell Is Human and Drive

What does it take to win success and influence?

In a world where we are constantly connected,…


Book cover of QBQ! The Question Behind The Question: Practicing Personal Accountability at Work and in Life

Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede Why did I love this book?

Too often, too many of us, ask “Victim Questions” like “When are they going to train me?” or “When are they going to tell us what’s going on?”

Instead of asking “Victim Questions” John teaches us to ask  “QBQs” (The Question Behind the Question).  For example, “What could I do to get trained?” or “How could I find out what is going on?  Asking QBQ’s has consistently moved me from being stuck to having a way forward! 

By John G. Miller,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked QBQ! The Question Behind The Question as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

No one can successfully achieve goals and new objectives, provide outstanding service, engage in exceptional teamwork, make change in their community or lead other people without personal accountability.

After decades of working with organisations and individuals, John G. Miller knows that the troubles that plague them cannot be solved by pointing fingers and blaming others. Rather, the real solutions are found when each of us recognizes the value of our own accountability. In this book, Miller explains how negative, ill-focused questions like "Who dropped the ball?" harm rather than help. Conversely, when we begin to ask better questions - QBQs,…


Book cover of Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 12 Powerful Tools for Leadership, Coaching, and Results

Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede Why did I love this book?

This fantastic book takes the reader step-by-step through the 12 powerful tools of “Question Thinking” and their practical applications in real life. 

It provides questioning tools for interacting with people and situations built on using an expansive, creative learning mindset rather than a constricting, judging mindset. Marilee Adams provides numerous examples and wonderful graphics to assist the reader in moving from a judging to a learning way of inquiry.

By Marilee Adams,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Change Your Questions, Change Your Life as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Discover how the questions we ask ourselves and others can either expand our mindsets and open us up to exciting new possibilities or constrict our mindsets and limit our choices for successful change.

Change Your Questions, Change Your Life is an international bestseller that has sold over 400,000 copies in twenty-two languages. People have discovered that, when we’re looking for answers, we often forget to take the time to ask the right questions. But, as Dr. Marilee Adams shows, intentionally using questions helps us make wiser choices, find solutions, and transform our personal and professional lives.

Dr. Adams uses a…


Explore my book 😀

Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask

By Michael J. Marquardt and Bob Tiede,

Book cover of Leading with Questions: How Leaders Discover Powerful Answers by Knowing How and What to Ask

What is our book about?

Over the past 20 years, since the 1st edition was written, we've continued our love for questions and sought out the best questions from the top leaders from around the world.  We've discovered that all great leaders throughout history asked questions, but also asking great questions made a person a great leader! In this book, we share the 7 major benefits of asking questions: (1) solving complex problems, (2) building great teams, (3) changing the corporate culture, (4) building positive relationships, (5) developing leadership skills, (6) becoming a continuous learner, and (7) energizing others to take actions that they never dreamed possible. We also discuss why we're afraid of asking questions as well as great strategies to ask better questions, questions that empower, and include a variety of open-ended questions. 

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Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did

By Margot Machol Bisnow,

Book cover of Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did

Margot Machol Bisnow Author Of Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve become passionate about telling parents how to raise happy, resilient, creative, confident, entrepreneurial children who are doing something that gives them joy. So many young people are unhappy; parents don’t understand how to help. They think their children should follow their path, but that no longer works for many. For the last 10 years, I’ve been speaking to parent groups; I was an Advisor to EQ Generation, an after-school program that gives children the skills to succeed; on the Advisory Board of MUSE School, preparing young people with passion-based learning; and on the Board of Spark the Journey, mentoring low-income high school students to achieve college and career success. 

Margot's book list on learn how to raise confident children

What is my book about?

This book shakes longstanding assumptions of parenting.

Through 99 stories of people who are now changing the world, it shows how to raise creative, confident, resilient children who are filled with joy and purpose. Based on interviews with top entrepreneurs and their parents, it guides you to help your children identify their passion and figure out how they can spend their professional lives doing something they love. 

Parents' well-intentioned efforts often boomerang. By ignoring their children’s skills and interests, parents can inadvertently create pressure and anxiety, thwarting their children's ability to excel and find happiness. Too often, following your heart…

Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams - 99 Stories from Families Who Did

By Margot Machol Bisnow,

What is this book about?

Learn how successful entrepreneurs were raised! Could your children start a company that disrupts existing industries? Or a non-profit that helps people around the world? Or follow their passion as an artist or activist? And most important, lead a life of joy and purpose, to be happy and fulfilled? Margot Machol Bisnow, mother of two thriving entrepreneurs, reveals how to raise creative, confident, resilient, fearless kids who achieve their dreams, through 99 stories of families who did it.

Read stories from 70 families who raised true game changers. See family photos of these thriving entrepreneurs, both when they were young…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in communication, change, and decision making?

Communication 69 books
Change 40 books
Decision Making 87 books