10 Questions with Memphis Leadership Expert Lauren Ready
Great leaders don’t just give answers — they ask the right questions. Memphis author Lauren Ready shares what it means to "Ask Like a Leader" — and why curiosity might just be your greatest superpower. Image: Forever Ready Productions
A former journalist turned entrepreneur, Lauren Ready has built her career around the power of curiosity. Growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she was the kid with a camera, asking questions no one else thought to ask — a passion that led her through a journalism career in Iowa and Nebraska before landing in Memphis, the city she now calls home. Her new book, Ask Like a Leader, helps turn blind spots into breakthroughs through better questions. We caught up with this leadership expert to ask a few of our own.
Before we get into lessons on leadership, listening, and the power of asking the right questions — how did you make your way to Memphis?
I grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where I was the kid with a camera, documenting life and asking questions no one else thought to ask. At Loras College in Dubuque, I studied media and communications, learning the responsibility that comes with telling someone’s story — how to ask the right questions and reveal the truth with care.
My journalism career took me through Iowa and Nebraska before bringing me to Memphis, where I fell in love with the city, its soul, and its people. I believe if you love Memphis, it will love you back.
What inspired you to found Forever Ready Productions?
It started as a side hustle, capturing events for nonprofits and editing recap videos within 24 hours. But after witnessing a moment of forgiveness inside a juvenile court hallway, where cameras aren’t allowed, I felt a deeper call to tell stories that inspired action and connection. I wanted to tell stories that didn’t end after one minute on air, stories that could spark change. Nearly a decade later, our team’s videos have helped nonprofits raise more than $18 million across the country and right here at home.
Switching gears to your book, what is a common blind spot for leaders?
One of the biggest blind spots I see is assumption. We assume we already know what our team needs, what motivates them, or what’s getting in their way. But assumptions blur our vision. The moment we pause and ask, “What’s true for you right now?” or “What might I be missing?” we begin to see clearly again. Breakthroughs happen when we stop seeing through our own lens and start seeing through someone else’s.
What would be an example of a better question that can turn that blind spot into a breakthrough?
Let’s say you have a team member who seems disengaged. The easy reaction is to assume they’ve checked out or lost motivation. But a better question might be, “What’s changed for you lately?” or “What’s getting in the way of your best work?”
Those kinds of questions create space for truth to emerge. You might discover they’re overwhelmed, unclear, or simply need to feel heard. That one question can shift everything – from frustration to understanding, and from blame to connection. No matter what, it opens the door to share their truth.
What is one of the biggest mistakes leaders can make when it comes to asking questions?
Sometimes we ask leading questions hoping they’ll confirm our assumptions, but they often do the opposite, creating tension or distrust. And when we ask a leading question, we often don’t listen to the answer because we hope the question checks a box. If you ask and then rush to respond, defend, or fix, you’ve missed the moment.
How does curiosity shape effective leadership, especially in high-pressure or fast-paced environments?
In high-pressure situations, curiosity keeps a leader grounded. It slows down reactive thinking and replaces it with responsive thinking. Instead of jumping to conclusions, curious leaders pause to ask, “What’s actually happening here?” or “What’s the opportunity in this challenge?” That mindset can calm a room, and it can also invite innovation and trust. Curiosity is clarity under pressure.
Many leaders feel they should have all the answers. What would you say to someone who worries that asking questions makes them look uncertain or weak?
I’d say the opposite is true. The most confident leaders I know are the ones who are secure enough to ask and also self-aware enough to know they don’t know everything. And because of that, they ask questions. There’s more wisdom in that than in having all the answers.
What’s one small shift a leader could make today to start “asking like a leader”?
Start by replacing statements with questions. Instead of saying, “We need to fix this,” try, “What’s one step we could take to make this better?” That one shift transforms command into collaboration. It takes the pressure off you to have the perfect answer and empowers your team to help find it.
In your book, you discuss listening as an essential component of questioning. What advice do you have for leaders who struggle to listen deeply?
Listening deeply starts with presence. Start by putting your phone down. Close the laptop. Look at the person in front of you and listen not just to their words, but their tone, their pauses, their energy. I remind leaders that there is so much information in silence — even if it’s uncomfortable.
Can you share a story that reminded you just how transformative asking the right question can be?
It was actually a question that was asked of me during a particularly difficult time in my leadership. I overheard some very hurtful things, and a friend said to me, “What about what you heard is true? What about what you heard is not true? And what are you going to do about it?”
Those three questions forced deep internal work, which helped me take action immediately and grow from the experience. Questions can open doors for others and for us.
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Gaye Swan
As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about life in Memphis, she grew up in Meridian and is still a Mississippi girl at heart.