Mauricio Leventer Estimated reading time: 2:15 minutes


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Questions matter

The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge.
Thomas Berger

The only stupid question is the one never asked.
Albert Einstein

Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something.
We foster our curiosity by asking questions.


Asking questions...

  • strengthens the learning process
  • is essential to the scientific method
  • encourage critical thinking
  • broadens the mind
  • can encourage positive change
  • fuels innovation
  • exercises intellectual humility in a positive way
  • can increase happiness

We basically ask questions because...

  • the answer is important
  • the question is important
  • the process of asking is important

Question words or interrogatives

  • What? → used to ask about information or the identity of something
  • Where? → used to ask about the location of something
  • When? → used to ask about the time of something
  • Why? → used to ask about the reason or explanation for something
  • Who? → used to ask about the person or people involved in something
  • What if? → used to ask about hypothetical situations or possibilities
  • Which? → used to ask about choices or options
  • How? → used to ask about the manner or method of something
  • How much/many? → used to ask about the quantity or degree of something

Basic rules to ask questions

1. Be direct
2. Make eye contact if asking the question in person
3. Use plain language
4. Use simple sentence structure
5. Be brief
6. Maintain focus on the subject at hand
7. Make certain the purpose of the question is clear
8. The question must be appropriate for the situation and the person
9. The manner of asking should reflect the intent
10. Know what to do with the answer

The inquiry process

1. What do we already know?
2. What do we not know?
3. What are our objectives?
4. What do we need to know now to reach our objectives?
5. Who are we going to learn this from?
6. How are we going to learn it?
7. What are the expected results from deploying what is learned?
8. What do we do as a result of learning the answer?

Types of Questions


Direct Questions
  • Are easy to understand
  • Are clear in meaning, intent, and purpose
  • Communicate that a direct answer is desired
  • Enable answers
  • Show attention and interest
  • Represent more focused control
  • Are potentially stifling to introverted participants
  • Put pressure on respondents

Example: Did you mean today or tomorrow when you said "soon"?


Indirect Questions
  • Generally used to establish rapport with the respondent(s)
  • Allows a soft approach to controlling the discussion
  • Indicates that the interest is in the answer, the “what”
  • Permits others to “wonder,” too
  • May lead to new ideas or new lines of inquiry

Example: Would you be interested in grabbing coffee sometime this week to chat?


Open Questions
  • Usually viewed as positive
  • Foster an expansive and inclusive participation
  • Can cover a lot of ground
  • Enable the telling of a whole story so that important details are less likely to be missed
  • Challenge control and focus, which are more difficult to maintain particularly when time is tight
  • May lead to grandstanding by one of the more outspoken participants

Example: What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of asking open questions?


Closed Questions
  • Maintain focus
  • Offer few options for digression
  • Are used in searches, examinations, detail discussions, fact-finding, anything requiring specificity
  • Are used to stop equivocating answers
  • Narrow the discussion
  • If overused, could result in “getting into the weeds” (too much detail)
  • May include a lot of what, who, when, where questions

Example: What is the capital of France?


Hypothetical Questions (If, What If, Suppose)
  • Expand the discussion
  • Can be used to spark creativity
  • Create opportunities for change
  • Demonstrate openness to new ideas
  • Are a way to think through scenarios
  • Enable you to test data suggested in discussion without appearing unsupportive

Example: What if life existed on other planets, how would it be different from life on Earth?


Provocative Questions
  • Present a challenge to the respondent or group
  • Stimulate thoughts or new ideas
  • Target specific critical issues in a way that gets attention
  • Could encourage an emotional response

Example: If you could erase one person from history, who would it be and why?


Conclusion

Asking questions is the first step in solving problems. It opens new possibilities in our lives making us more successful in a personal and professional levels. In a world overflowing with information, the ability to ask the right questions is more valuable than ever. Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted inquiry. It can unlock doors to possibility, fuel innovation, and pave the way for a brighter future.