Successful people distinguish themselves by asking the 'right questions', says Taco Bell CEO.

Sean Tresvant, CEO of Taco Bell, attributes his leadership success, in part, to the advice of not striving to be proficient in everything.

"Focus on mastering one area of business and excel at the rest," advised Tresvant, a marketing executive with experience at Taco Bell, Nike, and Sports Illustrated, in a recent interview on LinkedIn's "This is Working" podcast.

In January, when Tresvant became CEO of Taco Bell, which is owned by Yum! Brands, he received advice that helped him adapt to the job. Instead of thinking he knows everything, he now asks the "right questions" to team members with expertise he lacks.

"Tresvant, 54, stated, "I'm not striving to be everything. I recognize my limitations as a CFO, but I have a skilled CFO who can handle the financial aspects of the business.""

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Great leadership is indicated by the use of a tactic that helps those around you develop their own expertise, benefiting both your organization and their careers, resulting in a win-win situation.

"Leaders who strive to be all things to all people, become too micro-focused, and fail to empower their teams to lead, result in teams underperforming," said Tresvant. "I aim to be a leader who recognizes my strengths and those of others, and provides them with the freedom to excel."

Admitting when you don't know something

In September, communication expert Matt Abrahams advised CNBC Make It that asking good questions can help you gain influence and build relationships in the workplace. Good questions are brief, move a conversation forward, and center on a single, focused idea, he explained.

According to Abrahams, posing strong questions demonstrates empathy, a willingness to learn, and sometimes the ability to admit not knowing everything. These are valuable tools for career growth and deepening relationships.

According to leadership expert Charlene Li, who spoke on LinkedIn's "The Path" podcast last year, there is a link between success and acknowledging that you don't know everything. By balancing confidence with humility, individuals can learn from their failures and overcome obstacles, ultimately leading to improved performance and better decision-making in the future.

"Li stated that since you don't know everything, you can't be expected to have all the answers. Instead, you should adopt a learner's mindset, which is crucial."

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