Are we asking the right questions?
“To be or not to be – that is the question.” Who read this quote and wondered what Shakespeare was really on about? Whether we found our answer or not, he certainly made us think, and question. Bringing us to a bigger issue at hand – are we even asking the right questions?
Not about Shakespeare. But about everything around us.
So many of us grew up curious, questioning, wanting to know why this was the way things worked. Some of us bravely asked questions, and some of them may have even been answered. Often, they were shut down. As children, we persisted till we were taught to stop asking, and start listening. As young adults, if we were lucky, we met mentors at our colleges and universities, or our places of work, who showed us that there was value in asking questions.
So, why ask them at all?
Questions become the first in-road to understanding. Whether it’s breaking down a concept, making sense of a project plan, or grasping someone’s motivation, a good question sets the groundwork for familiarity.
Want a great risk-assessment tool? Try a question. Sometimes the least fallible plan falls apart in front of a well-directed question. Don’t lead with the assumption that things won’t go wrong.
Open a line of inquiry. We may often find ourselves unable to pose questions to someone in a position of leadership. “Yes People” or looking at perspectives through rose-tinted glasses means we aren’t seeing the bigger picture.
The right question is an eye-opener. Designers know this, business professionals know this. Coming up with solutions requires changing how we approach a problem – opening up an avenue we might have never considered.
Move beyond the surface. You don’t need to be an archaeologist to dig deeper – a question is all you need. An easy-looking project, a conflict slowly bubbling, a client’s simple remark: Not everything is meant to be taken at face-value.
If questions play such a key role in so many decisions we make, then perhaps it’s time we start asking them. “Are we they yet?” might not just be an annoying line on repeat – it might be a question to assess our own progress when it comes to asking questions.
How do we ask the right questions?
The intention behind our question will inform the kind of question we need to ask – whether it’s building information, understanding experiences or gauging outcomes.
Probing or Inquiring Questions
To unearth more details, a question directed at inquiry helps gather data, evidence, and most of all, a full picture of a scenario unfolding. This works as much for project management as for team management. Think what, where, how.
Open-ended Questions
Where there is room for genuine understanding, there is room for others to speak up. When we aren’t interested in knowing, that’s when our questions stem from authority. Think beyond yes-no, binary questions.
Perspective-taking Questions
A new perspective allows us to reorganise how we approach things. Novel perspectives can lead to alternative ways of working or even alternate solutions. Think what if, how would.
Inferential Questions
Once we have information on hand, how do we proceed? Gauging what is unsaid, predicting what might happen and understanding next steps helps streamline a course of action. Think what now, what’s next.
Affective Questions
Grasping the emotional pulse of a situation impacts not only our trajectory, but also reorients how we approach people. Whether it’s understanding company ethics or uncovering resistance from stakeholders, this adds a human dimension to our work. Think what matters, how do you feel.
When asking the right questions, it’s important to consider whether we are solving pain points, whether we are jumping in clueless, and whether we are focussed only on solutions.
Until we start asking questions, we won’t know if they are the right ones helping us move forward. As a famous Jedi master once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
If you want to explore and hone your soft skills, then my programme Amplify might just be what you need.
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