the power of asking the right questions: how it can make you better
the power of asking
Asking for anything can make you feel vulnerable, weak and embarrassed. But just knowing what to ask or when to ask is the beginning of a powerful journey.
When we ask better questions in our relationships, work environment or personal life, we are more likely to get helpful answers and turn those into opportunities for growth.
This article will go over how asking questions can be beneficial as well as common mistakes that people make with their questioning skills which include procrastination, lack of follow-up, asking the wrong questions and using too much empathy.
the benefits of asking
Asking questions is an important part of life. The right ones make a good conversation, an effective presentation, and even better friendships. It starts with understanding what kind of questions work best for different types of conversations.
It allows us to learn more about the people around us and get a better understanding of what they have to say on topics that are most relevant or important to us. It can also make our conversations more personal and allow us to learn about ourselves as well.
A recent study found that asking questions could lead the way in better understanding a topic.
asking questions
Through asking questions, you can get your thoughts and ideas validated or learn more about the perspective of others.
They enable people to open up and share their thoughts, ideas, and experiences in a way that you can truly connect with people in a way that makes them feel they are important.
This article looks at some important considerations when it comes to asking good questions.
building relationships
Rapid Start Leadership, says that the second way that questions are more powerful than answers is: Asking us teaches us about people.
Even as they are answering our questions, we are learning more about the person with whom we are talking: how much do they really know? How well they can express themselves? How do they feel about what they are doing? As they respond, it can be instructive to think not only about their answer, but about how they answered, and how well. In that sense, sometimes it can be revealing to occasionally ask questions that you already know the answer to.
what are the two types of questions you can ask?
Asking the right questions is a powerful tool that can help you make better decisions, solve problems, and improve your life.
Questions come in two flavours: open or closed. Open-ended questions require a response. Closed questions have pre-determined answers and are used to clarify already known information.
is there anything such as a “bad” question?
I am sure we all have heard more times than we can count “no, there is no bad question”, but is that really true?
I disagree. In my opinion, a bad question is an unclear question that leads to a lot of confusion, miscommunication and frustration. It can be difficult for someone to answer it correctly or provide you with the information you need to make a decision or take action.
Therefore, yes you can ask a bad question, but that doesn’t mean that it is an irrelevant one.
what are some examples of good questions to ask yourself before seeking help?
Questions are powerful. They don’t just help us understand how we think and feel; they can also make or break a relationship, result in the success of our career, and alter the course of our academic, or even spiritual path.
Here are some examples of good questions that can help you unearth insights and get the answers you are seeking:
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What is the worst that could happen? How would you deal with it?
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What is the best that could happen?
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How would you deal with it if things don’t work out as planned and your expectations are not met? How do you feel about that?
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What is the most important thing you want to happen as a result of this conversation or meeting?
Answering these questions can help us become more aware of our feelings and the impact others have on us and vice versa.
It can also help us understand ourselves better, which is important for developing self-awareness.
what is the new socratic method?
The Socratic Method is a method of teaching or learning philosophy and questioning, which was taken from the Greek philosopher Socrates.
The term “socratics” refers to those who use this technique in teaching.
The Socratic Method was created primarily with business people in mind and can be used during any stage of the decision-making process.
In the last century, this method was used by Socrates to interview people in order to learn from them and teach others. It has since evolved into an educational tactic that is still widely used today.
how is the socratic method used?
The Socratic method is often used as a teaching tool, but it can also be applied in many different areas of life from sales to counselling.
The Socratic method is often used as a teaching tool where a teacher poses a question to their students and then listens to the answers. It is best used in an educational setting with one or more teachers and learners.
As far as I am concerned the most enlightening experiences I have had to date have not been taught by a teacher in a classroom, but by being a student of life. Therefore, evidence has shown it can also be applied to many different areas of life from sales to counselling.
In summary, the Socratic Method relies on asking questions to provoke insight into an issue that leads to understanding and helps people to make better decisions.
what are the six types of Socratic questions?
The Socratic method of questioning has been used for many years to encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
These six questions are still highly relevant today and are indispensable to problem-solving. The Socratic method is the essence of critical thinking, so it should be used for influencing, leading, and coaching.
Here are the six types of Socratic questions and a sample question for each type (for more sample questions, check out this article by Charles Leon).
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Questions for Clarification
What is the problem you are trying to solve? [challenging the problem is a way to define exactly what the problem is]
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Questions that Probe Assumptions
How can you verify or disprove that assumption? [there are 3 ways to look at any problem; what we think we know (assumptions), what we do know (facts), and what we need to know (research)].
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Questions that Probe Reason and Evidence
How do you know? [what facts back up the statement? If there are no facts then this is an assumption which could be challenged]
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Considering Alternative Perspectives
What are the strengths and weaknesses of…? [simple SWOT analysis — Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat — can bring an answer to a question closer to becoming a solution]
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Consideration of Implications & Consequences
What if you’re wrong? [considering the opposite or the reverse]
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Questions about the Question
How does it apply to everyday life, or to our business objectives & mission statement etc.?
Again, this is about common sense, instinct, and intuition. It’s very easy to get carried away with arguments and decisions, particularly during a new product launch, when often simply asking the simple question brings the focus back to asking the right question.
Source: The Six Socratic Questions, Charles Leon
how to ask better questions when trying to receive help?
Asking the right questions is an important skill for everyone to learn.
The key word is LEARN. The ability to ask is a skill that can be learned, and it will serve us well throughout our lives.
Asking questions is a cornerstone of human communication, but since they don’t always come up in day-to-day conversation you will only get better at asking them as you build the “muscle” for it.
The key is to not just stop asking because you have no idea what the question is asking you. Instead, continue to ask so you can find the answer. By doing this, it will help you in many aspects of your life such as self-awareness and building relationships.
Whether you’re learning something new, or trying to improve your professional life, asking the right questions
A key part of becoming better at anything is to ask someone else who has gone through it before.
what to do if you are not receiving the help you are asking for?
Clearly, it’s not easy being vulnerable and exposing ourselves in putting our needs out there, but the rewards of being able to ask for what we want are immense.
If you are asking for help, and do not receive it, there are many ways that a person can handle rejection.
Some people may be more comfortable with confronting the situation, while others will remain silent and try to avoid the interaction altogether.
The main thing is to remember that rejection will happen. It’s unavoidable.
Rejection is not a big deal. What is a big deal, however, is how you choose to handle it.
Do not criticize yourself when your question comes up short, there will always be other opportunities to improve – as they say practice makes perfect.
Conclusion
It’s not just about asking a question, it’s about understanding why someone would be drawn toward one particular solution over another.
A good question that has been asked many times throughout history in different areas of knowledge will be paired with an answer that is both informative and helpful.
I hope this blog has given you an opportunity to understand that it is just now about asking the right question, but why someone would be drawn toward one particular solution over another.
All progress in life is achieved through asking questions and finding solutions. So do your best to get to the point so you have the opportunity to influence, engage, and get people to respond the way you want them to.
If you want to learn more about how I use my gift to guide my clients to be better problem-solvers and decision-makers – drop by my Instagram page @abovealladminsupport or send me an email at info@abovealladmin.ca and let’s chat about it.
