Asking great questions can unlock opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to us. Asking great questions help us connect with others, build better ideas, and provide new perspectives to grow our awareness.
But how do we become better at asking better questions? Here are three steps to consider in using questions to expand your capabilities:
1. Preparation. The best questions require preparation. You must invest some time to think and possibly research the person or subject under discussion. You can consider history, current events, challenges, resources, etc. Then put your thoughts into the form of probing questions.
2. Listening. After you have completed your preparation, and have reached the point where you can ask questions, ignore the temptation to read your questions. In fact, ignore your prepared questions and just listen. Allow the conversation to dictate the appropriate questions. Be present and fully in the moment for the discussion.
3. Get Out of Your Head. Don’t analyze the discussion from your perspective. Don’t put the conversation in terms of you. Stay focused on the other person, and ask questions that reflect your true and genuine interest in the subject.
It is counter intuitive to prepare and then ignore the preparation. But if you don’t, then you risk being perceived as scripted. And if you fail to do the preparation, you will not be able to ask the best questions when the opportunity arises.
We often don’t think of asking questions as a skill. But it is a very important skill that can be developed, and utilized, to open the doors of opportunity.