I Have Some Questions...
What if leadership wasn’t about having the answers—but about asking better questions?
On "I Have Some Questions…", Erik Berglund – a founder, coach, and Speechcraft evangelist – dives into the conversations that high performers aren’t having enough. This isn’t your typical leadership podcast. It’s a tactical deep-dive into the soft skills that actually drive results: the hard-to-nail moments of accountability, the awkward feedback loops, and the language that turns good leaders into great ones.
Each week, Erik explores a question that has shaped his own journey. Expect raw, unpolished curiosity. Expect conversations with bold thinkers, rising leaders, and practitioners who are tired of recycled advice and ready to talk about what really works. Expect episodes that get under the hood of how real change happens: through what we say, how we say it, and how often we practice it.
This show is for driven managers, emerging execs, and anyone who knows that real growth comes from curiosity rather than charisma.
Subscribe if you’re ready to stop winging it and start leading with intention.
I Have Some Questions...
045: "Why Asking for Help Builds More Trust Than Giving Answers" (lessons from Jake Stahl)
After sitting down with Jake Stahl, Erik reflects on the biggest insights from their conversation about neuro-strategy, influence, and the subtle ways leaders can shape trust. He pulls forward Jake’s key practices and maps them onto his own curiosity-driven approach to leadership and coaching.
🎯 Top Insights from the Interview
- Preparation shapes influence: First impressions begin long before the first handshake or Zoom call—your digital presence and prep work matter.
- Ask for input as a gift: Seeking advice or perspective triggers the same positive biological response as giving someone a treat.
- Paraphrasing as mastery: Advanced validation means not just repeating what someone said, but adding an empathetic inference that deepens connection.
- Avoid “Why?” in conversations: While powerful internally, asking “why” often provokes defensiveness in dialogue.
🧩 The Personal Layer
- Erik imagines treating every interaction like handing someone a brownie—a playful but profound metaphor for leaving people feeling valued.
- He notices how much Jake’s methods align with the ethos of I Have Some Questions—that the right framing of curiosity can transform any exchange.
- The idea that “why” can shut people down made Erik rethink his own instinctive questioning style.
🧰 From Insight to Action
- Audit your LinkedIn profile or digital footprint—what impression are you creating before you even meet someone?
- In your next conversation, ask for help or input as a way to build trust.
- Practice paraphrasing with inference: go one step deeper than what’s said.
- Swap “why” questions for validating restatements that move dialogue forward.
🗣️ Notable Quotes
- “Every person you meet should feel like you just gave them a brownie.” – Erik’s reflection on Jake’s insight
- “First impressions are built before the first words are spoken.” – Erik
- “The power of a question isn’t always in the question—it’s in how you reframe what you’ve already heard.” – Erik