QUESTIONING
Enquiring is about asking questions. It is approaching every interaction, every situation, every opportunity with questions about what can be learned in this moment, in this situation, with this person. In an unpredictable world asking questions is the only way you can move forward.
By asking questions you can turn judgment into curiosity to wonder about what you are assuming is true. With questions, you can use disagreements to explore a shared concern and use defensiveness as an opportunity for self-reflection.
Questions enable you to gather useful information that you need to see, understand, and apply to shape conversations and relationships to help you make better decisions. When your future cannot be predicted or controlled, answers have a short shelf life, but good questions help you find options for action that enable you to move forward with confidence and commitment.
Courtesy of Human Systems Dynamics
- Ask questions you can’t answer
- seek to understand people you disagree with
- Explore “What if…” questions to understand possible consequences to an action
- Find comfort with ambiguity
- Invite people into conversations where you look for answers together
- Ask others what they see and listen deeply to their insights
- Remain open to and actively seek new learning
- Ask others to teach you what they know
- Identify skills you don’t have and find a teacher who will help you learn
- Consider your own personal interactions through a lens of inquiry
- Ask colleagues to share perceptions of your impact on them
- Open yourself to learning from others about what they need
