Georg van Husen shares what he learned from a mentor and the value of question.
Lessons from the Field — The Mentor Who Asked the Right Questions
Years ago, I was leading a project that had run into serious trouble.
It was complex, politically sensitive, and heading toward visible failure.
I needed help.
So I reached out to a very senior executive — someone I admired for their calm clarity in difficult situations.
I expected advice.
Instead, I got questions.
Not easy or formulaic ones — but sharp, disarming questions that cut straight to the core:
“What are you assuming that might not be true?”
“What would you do if this wasn’t your project?”
“If you had to make one bold move tomorrow, what would it be?”
I left that conversation with no answers.
But I also didn’t need them anymore.
The right questions had unlocked the clarity I was missing.
That meeting taught me something I’ve tried to carry forward ever since:
👉 Good mentors give answers. Great ones ask better questions.
Because mentorship isn’t about showing brilliance.
It’s about creating space for someone else’s.
Whether you’re coaching a team member, advising a founder, or supporting a peer — resist the urge to solve too quickly.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can offer isn’t a solution.
It’s the right lens.
The best mentors I’ve had didn’t lead with answers.
They led with curiosity.
And that changed everything.
🗨️ What’s the best question a mentor ever asked you?