It’s been a minute since I last posted an article. Well, in fact, it’s been approximately 25.5 months or 597,600 minutes since the last post. “Why?” “What have you been doing, Rob?” Those are good and valid questions to ask. The answers are simple. I’ve been adjusting to a new career and job, learning many, many new things. In the crazy busy-ness of learning to be a teacher, I just didn’t have a lot of creative energy to spare for writing.
However, this week, that changed, at least a little bit. I was leading a class discussion looking at Questions. Yes, that was a primary theme of the entire class. We were looking at how powerful and important questions are in setting our course in our careers, in our professions, and in our everyday lives. Specifically, in that class, we also were taking it one step further to determine why questions are so important in the arena of non-conventional food production, in terms of drivers, motivations, and principles.
As is always the case each time I teach the same class to a new group of students, the outcomes were different. In this class, we started off by having a tournament (of sorts). In it, the participants were allowed to only converse using questions. The topic was loosely set, and the students proceeded to volley back and forth for as long as they could without pausing too long and without answering the previous question. The takeaways from the exercise were largely that it was unproductive, as answers are important to fuelling a conversation. While questions are required to take you deeper, answers are also needed to anchor you at each stage. Without waiting for answers, you don’t really learn a lot.
The next stage of the conversation and discussion revolved around the distinct types of questions and how different questions can yield different results. Asking direct, Yes/No questions can be appropriate at certain times and in some situations. This might include needed to clarify understanding, confirm instructions, or give a concrete response. However, when trying to build a greater understanding, it is critical to ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow the questioner to invite the questionee to share thoughts, feelings, and to take a bit of a more free-range/off-road path towards the answer. It forces deeper consideration to be given and for both sides to gain greater insights. It allows you to build a broader and clearer picture of what you are talking about.
Another important thought was that not only does the TYPE of question matter, but also the way that a question is asked. Last term, I learned firsthand how important it is to ask questions in different ways, because sometimes “Do you understand?” or “Does that make sense?” can be answered inaccurately. I hesitate to say “wrongly” but sometimes people say “Yes,” when really, they mean “yes, maybe, sort of.” Asking questions like “Can you show me or demonstrate to me what you’d do in this situation?” can allow for someone to show that they understand all or a part of a task, without judgement.
Some of the key messages shared during the class (e.g., quotes, adages, or ideas) included:
- Ask things like Why, not always just What, Where, Who, etc.
- Ask to understand, not to respond
- There are no dumb questions (well, questions without value)
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as others may benefit from hearing it as well
Asking deeper questions, like Why, rather than just How or What, brings something different to the questioning process. Asking why delves into the heart of the problem, forcing you to look wider and deeper than the surface.
If you only ask a question as a preface to your next statement, or to make yourself look smart, you lose out on a chance to learn. You ignore or disregard the intelligence and experience of others and you miss a chance to build something awesome together. Asking to understand is a show of respect and is part of building a relationship. And relationships are powerful.
Asking dumb questions (or simple questions, asking for a simple response) is a powerful tool. It forces the person being asked the question to break down the answer and reformulate it into other words, into fragments, or parts. It forces you to reconsider what you really mean, and then come at the question (and answer) from other directions.
It is easy to suppress our own curiosity or leave our questions unasked, because we are shy, nervous, afraid of looking foolish, or whatever the reason is. But the fact is, if you ask the question, there is a good chance someone else had a similar question and needed an answer also. So be courageous and ask the questions, dumb or otherwise. You won’t lose, no matter what.
As someone in a position of authority, it is important to help build the capacity of those around us by inviting a questioning environment. Even if you can’t answer every question at that moment, all the time, be sure to welcome the questions and keep the dialogue open. Employees that ask questions can bring innovation and creativity to the work site. This brings energy and enthusiasm and translates into increased efficiency.
In my class, we wrapped up the day by asking what the most important question was that the students had related to non-conventional food production. Each student responded differently, although there were common themes. But, in the end, by asking the bigger and harder questions, it revealed new challenges and new opportunities for each person to internalize the question and move towards action.
In your farm, in your business, in your family, in your life, what challenges or opportunities are you facing? Take the time to ask questions and investigate options. Dig deeper. Brainstorm. Ask others and then ask yourself. Questions are powerful and will yield a host of opportunities.