The One Question I Always Ask.

Peter Stevenson
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read
Sadly this post is not about Clippy.

I know I should have started the whole post with a question. Since it is on questions. But I love periods more than question marks. Which is a problem I have. And it is a problem in that I don’t always have the best questions to ask. I have had some good ones. (As an aside I used to ask potential employees who they liked more Neil Diamond or Tom Jones. The correct answer was just not to ask who either of them were. They are legends and you should love both of them. Or at least know who they are, pussycat).

So where was I. Oh yeah, questions. I have one question that I invariably ask people I am chatting with. And if we ever talk you will most likely hear me ask it.

“What question should I be asking and haven’t?

I often think about this question in the same category as “unknown unknowns” because I don’t know the right question that I should have been asking. And if I am asking you for information then invariably you know way more than I do about what question I should be asking.

I have been working on a way better questions post for the team over at modern8 with real experts in this world giving us some deep dive into leadership and business and the questions that you should be asking. That should come out in the next month or so but lets be clear about this. But one thing that has been made very clear to me lately is the point that if you are not asking the right questions, you certainly are going to be far less successful. And maybe I can ask you what question I should have started this post with?

(Also. How is this the first article that has tagged Tom Jones or Neil Diamond? You should be ashamed of yourselves people.)

)
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade