Powerful Questions

Here are a few good reminders to follow when you want to craft a powerful question.

In our lives today questions and answers does not have the same weight or value. This partly has to do with the influence of our educational environments. Since the beginning of our educational entry point, we learn that when there is a question it means that there is an answer, and that your success as a student is tied to with which speed and accuracy you can find this answer. We do not get educated in asking questions but in answering questions. 

In dialogue questions are crucial, and they needs to be valued in themselves. Their existence is enough, and carried with them the dialogical way of being. And there are a few things to remember when we want to craft a question that is powerful. 

Powerful questions are:

Questions that does not need an answer: 

Powerful questions are powerful because their process is liberating. They explore a potential, without ever being attached to its outcome. These questions holds no beliefs about that there must be an answer. The powerful questions knows that the answer enslaves, while the question in itself liberates. 

Breaking the box: 

The box means the paradigm in which we think. The question needs to shake our thinking. If you facilitate a dialogue and your assumption is that participants carry the belief that others are causing a specific problem to occur,  you might decide to ask a following question “How am i adding to the system i want to change.” (with no judgement, but simply to learn and to expand the box)

Questions that guides: 

Do not open a dialogue without a question. Good questions setting does not only bring focus and inspiration into the dialogue, they also brings security and clarity. 

Having the right scope: 

Some things that helps to make questions helpful, clear and guiding is to be aware of the scope of the question. The scope need to match the context and the needs. The question has to catch people where they are,to meet them where there is the most energy and relevance for them, and then use that energy to go deeper.

Not to long: 

Another point is to be aware of the length of the question, a good rule of thumb is to use around 7 words. “question also needs to be simple and clear and penetrating, and this is best done when they are short. 

Aware of “Why”: 

Why questions are more shaky than what, where, how, questions. Lake a look at the following why examples. “Why might it be that that our working relationship has had its ups and downs?” (create a genuine curiosity) or “Why did you do it that way?” (sparks defensiveness)

Often “WE” questions: 

At least 1 question needs to ask powerfully into the collective space, not the personal space. The group as a whole, is the object of learning. In dialogue, the role of individual contribution is blunted somewhat by the goal of reaching a higher level of communication as a group.

William Issacs made an overview based on his experience to answer to what a powerful question is.

powerful question:

• generates curiosity in the listener

• stimulates reflective conversation

• is thought-provoking

• surfaces underlying assumptions

• invites creativity and new possibilities

• generates energy and forward movement

• channels attention and focuses inquiry

• stays with participants

• touches a deep meaning

• evokes more questions

Written by Sidsel Andersen

Photo by Emily Morter on Unsplash