Why should everyone be using Powerful Questions?
I used to love finishing people’s sentences. It felt like I was completing a puzzle or a fill-in-the-blank. It made me feel connected, like I was on the same wavelength with them. And I felt smart for being able to correctly predict what was coming next.
Eventually I learned that the habit of finishing people’s sentences can be quite annoying. That I was stepping on other people’s speech. I sounded like a know-it-all. So I forced myself to pull back and let them finish.
And then something surprising happened. I heard things that weren’t what I had expected to come next. The conversation took new and interesting directions. I became curious and interested in learning more. I was much more eager to listen. The other person felt heard and was able to dig deeper as I asked questions.
That’s when I became a fan of powerful questions.
What is a powerful question?
A powerful question is one that provokes us to think deeply and to engage more intensely in conversation. It leads to a deeper or broader understanding of a subject. It can lead to enhanced creativity and new insights. It potentially changes the direction in which we are moving.
Powerful questions are often a tool in coaching, but they’re not limited to coaching. They can be used to problem solve or troubleshoot with anyone. Powerful questions are a key component of thought partnership.
A powerful question should:
- Open a conversation
- Dig deeper into the subject
- Not be a solution disguised as a question
- Help others discover their own solutions
- Flip the script, enabling others to think differently
Examples of powerful questions:
- What are the possibilities?
- What are one or two things you’ve tried to solve the problem?
- What do you mean when you say ‘XXXX’?
- Can you tell me more about that?
- How else could a person handle this?
- Can you give me an example?
- How do you feel about it?
- What else are we missing?
- What do you fear would happen if you did X?
Why it’s important
Powerful questions can unlock different ways of thinking and generate new ideas. They also provide a framework to help solve problems — even those you’re less familiar with.
Here are a few examples of how powerful questions can have an impact.
Stimulate conversation. Great questions can generate thoughtful, creative conversations that take a group in a new direction. Sometimes a simple question can open a new line of discussion or uncover additional ideas. Thought-provoking questions can supercharge a brainstorm session. They can also engage more people in the conversation.
Empower people. You might be tempted to just say, “Hey everyone, this is exactly what we should do.” But solutions that are built with multiple inputs tend to be more comprehensive. And people are far more likely to be in alignment with a solution that they have generated themselves, through engaging discussion, rather than being presented with an answer.
Build thought partnership. Thought leadership is bringing your individual knowledge and expertise; thought partnership helps people discover their own insights. Collaborating with others to develop great ideas can strengthen relationships.
Explore new areas. You won’t always be working in areas where you’re a deep expert. Sometimes you may be less familiar with a subject or you’re working with an untested new idea. Powerful questions can help you add value to the discussion even when you’re not an expert. And you’re likely to learn more as you ask questions.
Focus on the goal. Sometimes the big picture gets lost in detailed discussions. You can use powerful questions to ensure you’re looking at the right problem, know what success looks like, and are continuing to drive towards the right end state.
Being a great problem solver isn’t about having all the right answers. It’s about having all the right questions.
How to do it
The key to successfully using the powerful questions approach is having the right mindset.
Start by focusing your intentions using the three C’s:
- Curiosity. Ask about things that you genuinely wonder and want to know more about. Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to, and avoid trying to steer the conversation with your questions.
- Commitment. Aim to help work through the problem with the goal of reaching a satisfying solution. Truly be a collaborative partner who wants to solve the problem. Don’t just throw out questions as an uninvolved third party.
- Caring. In order to build a constructive partnership and earn trust, show genuine care and empathy. Demonstrate that you are invested in a successful outcome.
Questioning is always more effective when it comes from a place of trust. If a trusting relationship has not yet been established, your motives might be unclear. Also make sure you have been invited to probe with questions before you start.
A few other useful guidelines to keep in mind:
Observe, don’t judge. Help the person deconstruct the situation and possible next steps without inserting your own judgments. Focus less on emotional reaction and more on understanding the facts at hand.
Collaborative approach. The ideal outcome is a collaborative solution. Ensure that your demeanor and tone of questioning reflect a partnership, not a one-sided interrogation.
Avoid projecting. Try to avoid projecting your own thoughts, opinions, or approach in your questioning. Keep the focus on helping the other person find their own solution.
Keep it open-ended. Avoid asking yes-or-no questions. These types of binary questions don’t typically lead to deeper conversation. Ask “why” or start questions with phrases like “Can you describe…” or “Tell me about…” These questions encourage people to elaborate.
Don’t assume. There are no dumb questions! Often we don’t ask a question because we think it’s too obvious or basic. But typically in those cases, we are making an assumption about the answer. Ensure that everything has been explored, and that you’re working on the right problem.
How to get better
Practice makes perfect! The more you can try this approach, the easier it will become.
If you have a safe partnership with someone, let them know that you are trying a new approach and would like some feedback. Ask them how they felt as you were questioning. Reflect on whether you kept your questions open-ended or if you let some leading questions creep in.
I also love to keep my team continuously learning through team trainings like role play exercises. We would do round-robin practice sessions that went like this:
In those role plays, the goal wasn’t to solve the Subject’s problem in 5 minutes. We just focused on practicing the questioning muscle and opening up new lines of thinking.
Conclusion
Powerful questions are a great tool to have in your toolbelt. It’s a very simple concept, but it’s not always easy to put into action effectively.
Just remember — solving problems isn’t just about being the person with the right answer. Great problem solvers provide the spark to help others to get to the right answer. That’s how you can make your impact exponential!
