How many times do we catch ourselves asking the “Why” question? We start off that way because we want to quickly solve problems by figuring out the causes of an event. We often use “why” questions because we want to get to the point and solve a problem quickly. For example, parents often ask their kids why they did not do their homework if a progress report shows missing assignments. But what many of us sometimes forget is that the “why” question often comes with a built-in bias. That bias is an assumption that the truth is already known, and the recipient is often asked to defend that particular truth. To put someone in a defensive position may not be the best way to obtain a true understanding of events, and may impede further meaningful conversation. Vogt, Brown, and Isaacs (2003), in their article, “The Art of Powerful Questions,” caution “unless a ‘why’ question is carefully crafted, it can easily evoke a defensive response, as people try to justify their response rather than proceed in a spirit of inquiry.” Starting off with “Tell me what happened on those days that the progress report showed missing assignments” may avoid preconceived notions and enable a more meaningful conversation.
Vogt, Brown, and Isaacs (2003) write that “the usefulness of the knowledge we acquire and the effectiveness of the actions we take depend upon the quality of the question we ask and that questions open the door to dialogue and discovery.” The authors call this the “Art of Powerful Questions.” So next time you phrase a question, think about whether it opens the door to dialogue and discovery.
—M. Ugone
Vogt, Brown, and Isaacs (2003) write that “the usefulness of the knowledge we acquire and the effectiveness of the actions we take depend upon the quality of the question we ask and that questions open the door to dialogue and discovery.” The authors call this the “Art of Powerful Questions.” So next time you phrase a question, think about whether it opens the door to dialogue and discovery.
—M. Ugone
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