I’d like to get better at asking better questions.
Bad questions do this:
- Make us feel stupid (trying to guess at the right answer)
- Make you look stupid (they seem rhetorical, obvious, or overly theoretical)
Great questions do this:
- Help us discover something new about others
- Help us discover something new about ourselves
I’ve invited a few friends to help me think about their favorite questions. I called a few. I recorded a couple zoom calls, and even attempted to start a podcast. Then, here’s what I learned.
Great questions start with great attention.
The friends in my life that are best at asking great questions are the best at paying attention. They aren’t in a hurry to get to their question (the ones that are seem like show-offs anyway).
Here’s what they pay attention to:
- What I’m saying
- Their own wiring and desires
- What they know to be true
I still want to ask better questions. I think it starts by being better attentive to people.