The Power of Asking Questions

Think back for a moment over your grade school, high school, and even your college years.  How much critical and creative thinking did you do?  Did you simply memorize information so you had the “right” answers to questions, or did you work on asking the right questions?

One lesson I’ve learned in my short life is that learning the art of questioning is just as valuable than the ability to produce answers.  I prefer to study with the students who seek a further understanding than the instructor can put on an exam.  It always impresses me when a student asks a question that starts off with, “What if...”  This demonstrates to me that the student is not simply memorizing one of many possible scenarios. 

It can be so tempting to move on without fully understanding a concept or idea.    Once you make up your mind that you cannot understand something, you have hurt your chances of asking the question that will unlock comprehension for you.  From my observations, students prefer to go for the basic knowledge on Bloom’s taxonomy instead seeking the “whys” and “hows” of a discipline. 

So how then can we be become more skilled at asking questions?  I guarantee you it will not happen overnight.  Becoming better at asking the right questions takes many conversations, reflection, and life experiences. 

In her post, “How To Ask Better Questions”, Judith Ross argues the most effective and empowering questions create value the following ways:
-They create clarity.
-They construct better working relations.
-They help people think analytically and critically.
-They inspire people to reflect and see things in fresh, unpredictable way.
-They encourage breakthrough thinking.
-They challenge assumptions.
-They create ownership of solutions.

Sadly, it is easy to begin implementing proposed answers before we are certain that the right questions has been asked.  We have been programmed to find the “right” answer through standardized tests and multiple choice questions, but many times, a college degree does not equate into being skilled in the discipline of asking the right questions.   

Asking the right questions at the right time will not only make you a better student and a more valuable employee, it will also boost your self-esteem.  If you able to create value through your ability to question, you’ll instill in yourself a sense of your own strength and aptitude.  You’ll gain more confidence and become more competent.