The power of questions

On the Fast Company blog yesterday, Doug Sundheim has a superb post on the value of questions.  Here is the crux of the post, and the part I really love:

Questions, not answers, are the seeds of success. Someone focused on answers says, "This is the way." Someone focused on questions asks, "Is there a better way?" Questions force you to explore - to stretch, to learn, to grow, and to be creative. Answers let your mind go to sleep. You get lazy when you think you've found the answer. You haven't. And you never will because things always change. To stay vibrant and relevant, keep living the questions.

As a DI, it is imperative that you live in and with the questions that capture your imagination.  Your questions are precious gifts to the cause of innovation.  From the well-considered question can emerge extraordinary insight and enormous opportunity, even when there are no definitive answers.  Organizations tend to prefer answers, of course, so you must be steadfast in asking questions in the presence of your colleagues and even your bosses to make sure they don't end valuable inquiry prematurely.  In those difficult moments, try to remember Doug's words.

Comments

[DigiScott]

I've found this to be true from merely a conversational standpoint, all the way through to results that the client both likes and finds valuable. If you lead with questions, you involve them in the entire process. Leading with answers makes them feel like they don't know what is going on unless they come to you.