Rawpixel-stock.adobe.comPicture yourself in a lively discussion, surrounded by individuals engaged in a thought-provoking conversation. As the dialogue flows, are you more inclined to share your perspective or ask questions? If you lean toward expressing your own views more than listening, this article is for you. Asking the right questions is a critical skill. Before any leader can reach his or her potential, he or she must get this right.
At Correct Craft, we frequently discuss the importance of being a learner, not a knower; we believe that a learner’s mindset is critical when pursuing excellence. This is sometimes called having a beginner’s mind, which permits us to open ourselves to a world of possibilities. Questions become powerful tools for learning, paving the way for deeper understanding and fresh insights. The wisdom we develop is often proportional to the quality of our questions.
The power of asking the right question is an idea that has been around for more than 2,000 years. Named after the Greek philosopher Socrates, the Socratic method is a powerful approach to inquiry and critical thinking. By engaging in a series of questions and answers, we unravel layers of understanding and challenge our preconceived notions. This method encourages intellectual exploration and stimulates self-reflection, enabling us to arrive at more profound insights and solutions.
In any endeavor, whether personal or professional, understanding the problem is the first step toward finding a solution. Through thoughtful questioning, we uncover hidden layers and approach problems from different angles, enabling us to devise innovative and impactful solutions. It also helps reduce “swirling,” a challenge many teams face when they talk around a problem for an extended period without solving it.
Our team often asks, “What is the problem we are trying to solve?” The importance of asking this initial question is so vital that Albert Einstein once said, “If I had only one hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution.”
The words we use and the questions we ask have immense power to capture attention and drive engagement. Consider this: The headline of this article, “Are You Asking the Right Questions?” was deliberately chosen because that question is more likely to attract interest than a title like “How To Ask the Right Questions.” Phrasing or framing something even slightly differently can make a world of difference.
Our team has been taking Lean Six Sigma classes through Villanova University for more than a decade, with many of us earning black-belt certification. One of the concepts we are taught in the program is the importance of the “5 Whys.” By asking why five times, we can often identify the root cause of a problem. We also uncover underlying motives and rationales that shape our decisions and actions. The 5 Whys technique has led to numerous breakthroughs and innovations. Great minds throughout history have achieved remarkable discoveries simply by daring to ask, Why?
An interesting example of the power of asking questions happened during a class I attended in Silicon Valley earlier this year. The instructor asked about the challenges related to supporting a colony on Mars. One of the first things the class mentioned was the importance and difficulties of growing food. He asked why food was needed, and we all looked at him like he was crazy. He explained that we should not be thinking about how to grow food but, instead, should figure out how to provide the Mars settler with nutrition and energy, items normally provided by food. His comment resulted in the class shifting its paradigm related to both the problem and how to solve it.
When working with your team to solve a problem, a great way to start is by question-storming. By focusing your efforts on framing insightful queries, you unlock new avenues of thought and uncover fresh perspectives. If you can begin problem-solving with your team by first expanding your thinking through questions, it significantly improves the probability that you will end up with an innovative solution.
This might seem easy, but it’s not, especially if you tend to have an authoritarian — just do it — leadership style. An authoritarian style gets things done quickly — and is much easier — but rarely results in optimized decisions. There is significant research that validates the power of diversity and considering views beyond your own, including those that are contrary.
Effective leaders understand the profound impact of asking questions and that questions can foster creativity, engagement and growth within their teams. However, they also acknowledge that questions can be perceived as threatening and can hinder open dialogue. The best leaders cultivate an environment that encourages asking questions and embracing the questions of others, promoting a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. It is what we at Correct Craft call being “Highly Assertive — Highly Cooperative.”
In our fast-paced society, where instant answers and quick fixes are valued, the power of questions often is not appreciated. The beauty of a well-crafted question lies in its ability to reshape our thinking and ignite transformative change. If you want better results for your organization, it is probably not going to happen if you provide all the answers. However, it could happen if you ask the right questions.
For those interested in digging deeper into this subject, A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger is a great book.
Bill Yeargin is president and CEO of Correct Craft and the author of five books, including the best seller Education of a CEO.
This article was originally published in the September 2023 issue.
