Revision of Questions from April 12, 2008 - 20:20

Asking the right question

Asking the right question is the most effective way of opening up a conversation and keeping it engaging. A high-quality question focuses on what is meaningful for the participants, triggers our curiosity and invites us to explore further.

While answers tend to bring us to closure, questions open up to exploration.

When inviting people into a conversation that matters, it is helpful to have an overall question, one that itself embodies the purpose of the meeting. This is the key question or the “calling question” for the conversation or meeting. The calling question is best formulated together with key stakeholders.

The conversation may include other questions than the calling question. The questions you choose or that people discover during conversation are critical to its success. A hosted conversation could explore one question or a series of related questions.

Some guidelines for choosing questions

• A well-crafted question attracts energy and focuses attention on what matters. Experienced hosts recommend asking open-ended questions, not ones that have a simple yes/no answer.

• Good questions invite inquiry and curiosity. They do not need to promote action or problem solving immediately.

• You´ll know a good question when it continues to surface good ideas and possibilities.

• Check possible questions with key people who will take part in a conversation. Does it hold their attention and energy?

What makes a Powerful Question?

Hundreds of people around the world were asked - Several common themes emerged

A powerful question…

o Is simple and clear

o Is thought provoking

o Generates energy

o Focuses inquiry

o Challenges assumptions

o Opens new possibilities

o Evokes more questions