Ask powerful questions.
You’ve heard this is something the best and most experienced leaders do.
But, maybe you don’t have years of experience leading people. Or, perhaps you’ve been in a leadership role for some time but don’t consider yourself skilled at asking powerful questions.
In fact, you’re not even sure how to ask a good question. Let alone a powerful one.
How can you get started?
I’ve got your answer in this post. And, it’s super easy.
A super easy, two-step suggestion to get started
How can you get started in your journey to learn how to ask powerful questions as a leader?
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know I try to keep things simple. And, today’s post will definitely stick with that approach.
Here’s my super easy, two-step suggestion.
Step 1- Find some powerful questions
Another thing you know about me if you’re a regular reader is that I don’t claim to have original thoughts.
I’m a firm believer that everything created by humans is built on what came before. I write about this in a previous post.
So, if you want to get started asking powerful questions, you don’t need to create these questions yourself.
Start by finding some powerful questions others are already using effectively.
Simple, right?
Where can you find these existing, powerful questions? I’ll get to that shortly. But, first let’s cover step 2.
It won’t take long.
Step 2 – Ask these powerful questions
Once you have these powerful questions others are already using, what do you do next?
Ask them.
That’s step 2. Just ask the powerful questions that others recommend.
Leading others well usually isn’t complex. It’s often quite simple. And, that’s the case with asking powerful questions.
Getting started developing the skill of asking good questions doesn’t require anything more than the willingness to try.
And, maybe a bit of courage. But, once you complete step 1 and have some example questions to ask, I’m confident you’ll be ready.
You can get started by borrowing questions from the coaching industry.
7 powerful questions from a coaching expert
Many would agree that Michael Bungay Stanier wrote the book on coaching. And, the book they are referring to is “The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More, & Change the Way You Lead Forever”.
The Coaching Habit is the best-selling book on coaching this century. And, it contains a set of seven transformative questions coaches and leaders around the globe use every day.
These powerful questions are a great place to start as you work on your ability to ask great questions.
Great questions for all leaders, not just coaches
And, don’t worry. You don’t have to be a coach to use these questions.
They work well in just about any conversation in all types of settings.
Here’s what Bungay Stanier says about these seven essential questions in his outstanding follow up book, “The Advice Trap: Be Humble, Stay Curious, & Change the Way You Lead Forever.”
There’s no set script. You don’t have to ask them in a certain order. They work by themselves, or in any order.
Michael Bungay Stanier in The Advice Trap
Sounds easy to try, right?
It is. Super easy in fact.
So, what are these seven powerful questions?
Here are the questions and the author’s descriptions taken directly from The Advice Trap.
Seven Essential Questions from The Advice Trap
1. The Kickstart Question: “What’s on your mind?”
A perfect way to start many conversations. Both open and focusing at the same time
2. The AWE Question: “And what else?”
The best coaching question in the world – because their first answer is never their only answer, and rarely their best answer.
3. The Focus Question: “What’s the real challenge here for you?”
We’re all wasting too much time and effort solving the wrong problem because we were seduced into thinking the first challenge is the real challenge.
4. The Foundation Question: “What do you want?”
This is where motivated and informed action best begins.
5. The Strategy Question: “If you’re saying Yes to this, what must you say No to?”
Strategy is about courageous choice, and this question makes commitment and opportunity cost absolutely clear.
6. The Lazy Question: “How can I help?”
The most powerful question to stop us from “rescuing” the other person. An alternative is “What do you want from me?”
7. The Learning Question: “What was the most useful or valuable for you?”
Learning doesn’t happen when you tell them something, it happens when they figure it out for themselves.
I said earlier that “Find some powerful questions” was Step 1 in this super easy, two-step method to get started asking powerful questions.
Now you have seven. That’s a pretty good start, huh?
With these proven questions, I’m confident you will have no trouble taking Step 2, which is “Ask these powerful questions.”
But, let’s not stop with seven questions.
I’d like to give you even more powerful questions to choose from.
In fact, you’re going to have a plethora of choices before we’re done.
3 sets of powerful questions
I first learned these questions during my courses at The Kansas Leadership Center a few years ago. Since then I’ve kept a copy in my notebook I use daily.
They are that good.
The Art of Powerful Questions
Is asking powerful questions an art?
I think it is. But, don’t let that intimidate you if you don’t consider yourself an artist.
These questions are taken from a short guide titled “The Art of Powerful Questions: Catalyzing Insight, Innovation, and Action” written by Eric E. Vogt, Juanita Brown, and David Isaacs. It is available through The World Cafe’ and other locations online.
I especially like how this guide groups these valuable questions according to their primary purpose. This structure makes these powerful questions even easier to use and immediately applicable to your specific situation.
The questions from this guide are so easy to use in fact, you may be considered an expert “asker of powerful questions” before you know it.
I say that based on my personal experience.
Let me tell you a quick story before I share the questions.
It’s easy to ask really good questions
“You ask really good questions.”
I’ve been told that many times in the past few years. And, my typical response is this.
“Thank You”. Then I hold up my notebook with my taped in photocopy of a handout I got from The Kansas Leadership Center and show them my secret.
Then, I add my own powerful question.
“Would you like me to make you a copy?”
As I said earlier, I don’t claim to have original ideas. I’m simply using and building on the work of those who have gone before me. And, you can do the same.
Follow my example and your teammates will be viewing you as an expert in the art of asking powerful questions soon too.
Questions for all seasons
My friends at the The Kansas Leadership Center consider these questions as tools for Appreciative Inquiry, as you can see on the handout in my notebook.
The authors of “The Art of Powerful Questions” call them “Questions for All Seasons”.
As that term applies, they can be used in a variety of settings. And, just like the Seven Essential Questions above, they are easy to use.
Here’s how the authors introduce these three sets of powerful questions.
Here is a series of generative questions that we and other colleagues have found useful to stimulate new knowledge and creative thinking in a wide variety of situations around the world. Look at these questions to stimulate your own thinking about questions related to your own specific situation. Play. Use your imagination.
The Art of Powerful Questions
Did you catch the last two sentences?
Be creative and get started
“Play. Use your imagination.”
I promised you this post would give you a super easy way to get started asking powerful questions.
How much easier could it be than to “play” and “use your imagination” using these example questions?
And, with these 25 powerful questions grouped into three categories, it’s even easier to begin experimenting and applying them as you lead.
25 Powerful Questions from The Art of Powerful Questions
Questions for Focusing Collective Attention on Your Situation
Questions for Connecting Ideas and Finding Deeper Insight
Questions That Create Forward Movement
Aren’t these truly powerful questions? Every time I read them I am energized and inspired to use them whenever I can.
If you agree and are excited to put them into practice too, you can. You are now fully equipped and ready to get started.
You are ready to get started
You now have a super easy, two-step suggestion to get started asking powerful questions.
Remember the two steps?
Step 1- Find some powerful questions
Step 2 – Ask these powerful questions
And, you’ve got 32 powerful questions that coaching and leadership experts have proven to be effective.
Step 1 complete.
All that’s left is Step 2.
And, taking this next step is up to you.
Take Step 2 – Ask these powerful questions
If you want to be a better leader, a kind and confident leader who helps your team get results, I encourage you to take Step 2.
Just pick one or two questions that sound natural to you. Something you can hear yourself saying in normal conversations you have with your teammates.
Then, just ask the question.
You’ll be glad you did.
And, you will likely be amazed at the positive impact you will have on your teams and your organizations.
Let’s lead with kindness and confidence.
Greg
PS – Photo credit goes to https://www.wocintechchat.com/, an amazing collection of photos of Women in Technology. I encourage you to check it out.
Discussion Questions
- Out of these 32 powerful questions, which do you like and plan to use with your team?
- What powerful questions would you suggest others try?
I’m curious to hear about your experience using these questions in your organizations. Please share your comments so we can learn together.
