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What are some good questions to ask?

What kinds of questions are good to ask to lead discovery of new information in a conversation with someone?

  • This is a follow-up question to . Thanks, this is helpful, and as a former consultant I can attest to the fact that most of us don't listen very well.  For instance, as a Product Manager, often times I interact with customers who have an idea of what they'd like in a product.  Sometimes they are not very clear in articulating this, and I think your suggested approach of listening better would work well. To continue on this theme, what about situations where the person being asked the question doesn't have a clear understanding, and questions can be used to lead the discovery process through uncharted territory?  Using my example above, sometimes as Product Managers we want to make a jump in the product roadmap to something that isn't on someone's list, but they would very much like if built.  How do I ask good questions to lead us both down this path of brainstorming? Not sure if there is a general framework/guidelines for this process, but would love to hear people's opinions on this.

  • Answer:

    Why did you pick the career you have? Never ask a yes-no question.

Mike Leary at Quora Visit the source

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How do you know that? Why? But only if in a non-confrontational manner, inviting the person to look deeper. What if the opposite were true? But without denigrating what they just said. Any type of question or suggestion that asks them to perceive, as opposed to think and figure out. Perception can be done deeper and deeper, whereas thoughts tend to run in circles. Any question or suggestion that takes them in a different direction, towards lateral thinking. Instead of following the traditional logic of the subject, do something different. Turn it upside down, inside out, see it from a new place. Introduce surprising elements you wouldn't expect to fit, and see how they fit the subject anyway. Note that I interpreted the question as meaning how I can help the other person discover something new. If the objective was for me to discover something about them, my answer would be different.

Flemming Funch

People should observe the person before asking a question. What is different about them than other people you have met. What sticks out? Does he/she have an accent? I met a woman at the airport who had a very unusual eye color. She had light green eyes, not hazel eyes, and I commented on it. That led to a discussion and I learned many things about her.

Liz Mullen

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