Leading with Questions, 3rd Edition

5The Art of Asking Questions

Grasping the art of questioning can lead to impressive results; asking inappropriate questions usually closes off learning. But even when we work hard to make sure the questions we ask are appropriate, we can undermine the process by asking questions carelessly. The attitude, mindset, pace, timing, environment, and context can all affect the impact of our questions. A question asked at the right time in the right manner with the right person is just as important as the content of the question itself. Good questions can become great questions when the science of inquiring is blended with the art of questioning.

Judging versus Learning: The Mindset for Asking Questions

As Marilee Adams notes, our mindset frames how we see the world. It simultaneously programs what we believe to be our personal limitations and what we see as our possibilities. Mindsets define the parameters of our actions and interactions and affect, either explicitly or implicitly, outcomes in any area of focus. They are a determinant in the types of questions we ask ourselves and others. In addition, our individual mindset determines how we observe, understand, and accept ourselves and others.¹

Adams refers to two types of mindsets that may reside in the questioner: learner and judger. In the learner mindset, the questioner seeks to be responsive to life's circumstances. When we are focused on learning, we seek to understand the past as a way of guiding our actions in the future. ...