A Lightning Cast is a shorter form episode modeled after lightning talks.  You’ll get valuable content in 8 minutes or less.

Powerful questions are a way to challenge our thinking, stimulating deeper conversations, and uncovering hidden truths.  By asking powerful questions, we create a new level of discussion; a greater possibility for new learning.  It also creates a sense of true partnership because the person with whom you’re speaking feels heard and understood.

A powerful question differs from a regular question in a few key ways.  Powerful questions:

This type of question is considered powerful because it requires a stakeholder (or whomever you’re speaking with) to reflect on their answer and explore new possibilities.  They also helps overcome some of our biases that may hinder the ability to make good decisions.

Weak Questions

We often ask closed-ended, yes/no type questions that don’t explore the subject in any depth.  Even when we ask some open-ended questions that start with who, where, and when, we limit exploration because you’re simply asking for a known answer or list.

Questions that start with words like why, what, or how require more exploration and can lead to deeper discussions and reveal new learning.

Make sure your questions don’t have any underlying assumptions which will limit exploration of the real issue.

Examples of Powerful Questions

The number one question you should ask is “Why?”  This is the more powerful one-word question you can use.  Beyond a simple “why”, here are a few powerful questions you can use in different situations.

Scoping

Initial Assessment

Background

Risks

Clarification

Elaboration

The Key Trait

The ability to ask powerful questions is dependent on your curiosity. Ask questions with a beginners mind; with a natural curiosity and an eagerness to learn more so that you can appropriate advise your organization.

If you want to find powerful solutions and solve the right problems, ask more powerful questions.

Listen to this episode to understand the power behind powerful questions and how to use them.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/masteringbusinessanalysis/MBALC018.mp3

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