2 Ways to Ask Questions Like an Expert
A leader who doesn’t ask questions is a know-it-all with a closed mind.
“My greatest strength is to be ignorant and ask a few questions.” Peter Drucker
7 things good questions do:
- Build rapport.
- Unlock minds.
- Discover new ideas.
- Create unexpected value.
- Encourage learning.
- Gain respect. Impress the boss by asking smart questions.
- Inspire creativity and innovation.
2 Ways to Ask Questions Like an Expert
#1. Ask questions frequently.
The path to expertise begins with repetition.
A person who becomes an expert has done something many times. But leading many meetings doesn’t make you an expert at leading meetings.
Focused practice makes you an expert.
- Set aside the first five minutes of your next conversation to do nothing but ask questions.
- Ask people what questions you should be asking.
- Spend time crafting a few questions before your next meeting. You think too much about things to say and not about things to ask.
#2. Follow questions with questions.
The second question yields better results than the first.
Ask a new employee, “What do you do for fun?” Avoid the seduction of stealing the conversation. Don’t respond with, “I have fun when ….” Instead ask…
“What got you interested in (Insert the thing they do for fun here. Say, sky diving.)?”
Use the speaker’s own words. People prefer their words to yours. Don’t say, “What got you interested in that?” Instead ask, “What got you interested in sky diving?”
First questions address obvious issues. Second questions explore meaning, purpose, method, and value.
First question: What’s your mission?
Second question: What makes your mission matter?
First question: Who are your best customers?
Second question: What made them become your customers?
First question: What’s frustrating?
Second question: How can you address your frustrations?
Why don’t leaders ask more questions?
How can leaders become experts at asking questions?
Still curious:
Questions Proactive People Ask
Source of the Drucker quote: How to Consult Like Peter Drucker
Dan,
1. What made you write a blog about questions?
2. What additional questions should I be asking you?
(I am practicing what you just taught me.)
You gave us many good suggestions to get better at asking questions.
It takes courage to ask the “difficult questions.” The questions that you know will lead to a difficult but necessary conversation.
Good questions, Paul. My coach suggested I ask my children, “What do you wish I would have told you when you were growing up?” It led to good conversations, but it felt difficult to ask.
Great article as usual. I like to remember that “the quest is in the question”
That’s a wonderful phrase. Thanks, Maureen.
Why don’t leaders ask more questions? Could it be due to fear of becoming unpopular? If they do ask unable to followup as you have asked a closed ended Yes/No style question..
I think the way some questions are asked may seem to or actually does put the person on the defensive. Speaking from experience on both ends of a conversation with a lot of questions I have done that to others and felt that way, too.