Ask more questions.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU ASK QUESTIONS?
According to the Harvard Business Review, many adults with children estimated that about 70-80% of their children’s dialogues were made up of questions. But among the adults, the estimate was only 15-25%.
AS WE GET OLDER, WE ASK LESS QUESTIONS. WHY?
Is it because we’re afraid of looking stupid?
Is it because we don’t want to be a nuisance?
Is it because we don’t know what questions to ask?
Is it because of our ego?
WHY SHOULD WE ASK MORE QUESTIONS?
Questions have the power to spark change.
Questions have the power to help us make decisions.
Questions can change your perspective.
Questions can start meaningful conversations.
THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF QUESTION, AND EACH TYPE CAN HELP US IN DIFFERENT WAYS:
CLARIFYING
QUESTIONS
Clarifying can help us better understand information we’ve been given and should lead onto more questions.
We can ask:
Can you tell me more?
Why do you say so?
Do you have any examples?
When we don’t ask these questions, we assume and that can be a bad thing.
ADJOINING
QUESTIONS
These are used to explore related aspects of the problem that are ignored in the conversation.
We can ask:
How would this concept apply in a different context?
How does this fit with your wider strategy?
We often try and focus too soon instead of asking broader and more exploratory questions. Taking time to ask them can help us gain a deeper understanding of something.
FUNNELLING
QUESTIONS
We ask these to delve deeper, to understand how an answer was derived, to challenge assumptions, and to understand the root causes of problems.
We can ask:
How did you do your research?
Why is this not a priority?
It’s all about looking, questioning the details and being analytical.
ELEVATING
QUESTIONS
These highlight the broader issues and look at the bigger picture. They help you zoom out. Being too immersed in an immediate problem makes it harder to see the overall context behind it.
We can ask:
Let’s take a step back, what are the larger issues?
Are we even asking the right question?
How do some of our issues relate to the bigger picture?
By asking these questions we get to see our challenges from a higher perspective. From here, we can better see connections between the individual problems.
QUESTIONS CAN HELP GROW YOUR MIND.
“Being willing to ask “dumb” questions is, ironically, one of the smartest things you can do. Learning the basics of a field or craft is often where people get stuck but being willing to ask the basics helps you build a foundation for the advanced parts of a skill,” - Allen Gannett, author of The Creative Curve.
QUESTIONS CAN BUILD RELATIONSHIPS.
“Ask questions the other person will enjoy answering,”
Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
QUESTIONS CAN HELP YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT YOURSELF.
What questions would you like to ask yourself? What do you want to work through?
WE ASKED THE TEAM WHAT QUESTIONS THEY WOULD LIKE TO ASK.
What brings me joy?
Am I spending my time well?
Am I working effectively?
Am I the best version of myself?
Do I get it?
Am I being helpful or a hindrance?
Am I doing the right thing?
Should I reflect more?
What’s next?
It’s always good to check in.
QUESTIONS HELP TO GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
We have a set of questions we share before starting work with our clients. It helps our clients identify the problems they need solving. It helps us as a starting point to gain a greater understanding of our clients and their business.
Here are some of a few questions we ask:
Understanding your challenges and ambitions
What are your goals and ambitions for your brand / business?
Do you have clear business objectives for the next 6-12 months?
What’s your number one priority for the next 12 months?
What does success look like (for the next 12 months)?
What are your challenges? Can you name your top three challenges currently as a business?
Do you have what you need to overcome these challenges?
WE NEED TO BE CURIOUS. WE NEED TO ASK MORE QUESTIONS.
If we don’t ask questions, we won’t develop.
If we don’t ask questions about our business, we won’t progress.
Every strong brand knows it’s important to foster and build relationships with their audience. Asking more questions makes people feel heard and understood.
Questions can summarise or emphasize what’s important.
Questions stimulate discussion and fuel creative & critical thinking.
Questions help with communication.
Ask more questions.
References:
https://hbr.org/2015/03/relearning-the-art-of-asking-questions
https://forge.medium.com/9-reasons-to-ask-more-questions-43fb61dbf73f