HBR IdeaCast Are You Asking the Right Questions?
282 snips
Apr 16, 2024 
In this engaging discussion, Arnaud Chevallier, a strategy professor at IMD Business School and co-author of an influential article on questioning, shares insights on how leaders can enhance decision-making by asking the right questions. He categorizes questions into five types—investigative, speculative, productive, interpretive, and subjective—to target various strategic challenges. Real-world examples illustrate how these questions can unlock organizational value. Chevallier emphasizes the need for creating safe environments for dialogue and tailoring questions to foster collaboration.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The Importance of Diverse Questioning
- Asking questions aids decision-making, but focusing on one type can create blind spots.
- Managers often lack formal training in questioning techniques, unlike lawyers or doctors.
Developing a Question Mix
- People develop a specific question mix, often influenced by superiors.
- Generic advice like "ask open-ended questions" lacks depth for strategic decision-making.
Investigative and Speculative Questions
- Use investigative questions (what, how) to explore problems and solutions deeply.
- Employ speculative questions (what if) to broaden perspectives and foster innovation.