Asking questions

Question

Does any one have either advice or resources on asking questions? In meetings (and in life) I'm always blown away when friends or coworkers ask insightful questions, and I want to be able to do that to!

Chloe Bass · Answer

Margo! What a great question you asked here! It's helpful to think about what you hope to accomplish through the questions. For example, are you hoping to help people consider things they may not have considered? Are you asking to grow your own knowledge? Are you asking to grow connection between/among colleagues?

It also helps to have a curious and appreciative mindset - curious to learn and appreciative of others' experiences and expertise.

Last thing I'll say on this - asking good questions is a skill that can be practiced and developed. I'm actually a certified life coach. One of my coaching courses included a whole unit on asking effective questions. They can be very powerful. Good luck as you continue to sharpen this tool!

Krishma Hegde · Answer

Hi Margo, I have been in those situations.  This is the approach i have taken - I set some time with the individual who asked that invigorating question and ask them why did they ask that question and the intention behind it. Most of the times i have gotten answers which have opened my small world to different possibilities. I always ask these questions with an intent of understanding- You'll be surprised with how open people are about their strategy and thoughts.

Antonette · Answer

Hi Margo,

Here is my personal approach to asking questions, especially in discussions which I have little or no expertise:

1. I try to be an attentive listener to ensure that I am not asking a question which is irrelevant and one which has been answered already.

2. I try to show genuine interest in topics outside my usual scope so that I can learn more.

3. I research on topics which are of interest to others in my group so when friends or colleagues are discussing them, I can ask questions to clarify what I do not understand.

Most importantly Margo: remember,  no pressure, be yourself,  enjoy the learning which takes place in group talks. You will do great whenever you feel the need to ask a question in any settings.

Shawna Clark · Answer

Hi Margo. I find myself always asking questions. My recommendation would be to go in with an open and curious mind. Toyota has a philosophy of asking 'Why' five times. While there is more to it, the purpose behind asking so many times is to get to the root of a problem. It's often used in LEAN problem solving in business, but I think it can translate into personal life as well.  I feel curious about all aspects of life, so I'm often fascinated when people talk about their experiences or processes.

There is an acronym you can use if you run out of topics to discuss: FORM
F - Family
O - Occupation
R - Recreation
M - Message

Also, if you like to read, I recommend the following books,
Captivate - Vanessa Van Edwards (link to her website: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/)
Start with Why - Simon Sinek
Say What You Mean - Joseph Goldstein
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie

Jennifer Nuest · Answer

One thing that is crucial is to listen to understand and not with the intent to respond. Ask open-ended questions that allow for discussion and follow-up with more questions. There is a new podcast from Freakonomics called No Stupid Questions where the hosts ask each other questions. This is a fun way to learn about asking insightful questions.

Asking questions

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