Best of IdeaCast: To Build Stronger Teams, Ask Better Questions
Dec 24, 2024
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Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, both professors at Harvard Business School and co-authors of "The Surprising Power of Questions," explore how effective questioning can transform workplace communication. They discuss techniques for asking better questions to strengthen trust and collaboration within teams. Listeners will learn about the impact of open-ended versus closed questions, the art of navigating mixed goals in conversations, and the role of active listening in fostering deeper connections. It's a masterclass on leveraging questions for success!
Thoughtful questioning builds trust and enhances persuasion by fostering genuine interest and empathy between individuals in organizations.
Utilizing specific questioning strategies, such as open-ended or negatively framed questions, can significantly improve the quality of work conversations and outcomes.
Deep dives
The Power of Asking Questions
Asking questions in business has numerous benefits that many people overlook. It facilitates the exchange of information and fosters interpersonal connections, as it shows genuine interest and promotes empathy between individuals. Notably, research indicates that asking questions can enhance persuasion, as understanding the other person's perspective allows for tailored responses to their needs. Despite these advantages, individuals often fail to recognize the positive impact that thoughtful questioning can have on their interactions.
Effective Questioning Techniques
Certain questioning strategies can yield better outcomes, particularly in competitive or sensitive situations. For instance, when seeking honesty, posing a negative presumption can encourage a truthful response, while a positive assumption may inhibit it. Open-ended questions are beneficial for discussion and exploration, but in situations requiring clarity, closed questions can effectively extract precise information. Follow-up questions are particularly valuable as they demonstrate active listening and further engage the interlocutor, allowing for deeper conversation.
Navigating Conversational Dynamics
Understanding the context and dynamics of conversations is crucial for effective communication, especially in mixed goals scenarios such as competitive and cooperative settings. In group discussions, dominant personalities may overshadow quieter members, yet encouraging questions from everyone can enrich the dialogue with diverse perspectives. Anticipating difficult questions and preparing thoughtful responses can bolster confidence during interactions. Ultimately, mastery of questioning alongside active listening enhances both question asking and answering, leading to more meaningful exchanges.
Asking questions is a powerful way to build trust, exchange ideas, and unlock value in organizations. And it is a skill that can be honed to make work conversations more productive, say Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, professors at Harvard Business School. In this classic episode, they join former host Sarah Green Carmichael to talk through insights from behavioral science research. They share techniques to adjust the frame, tone, and type of questions to improve results—whether you’re looking to get information, find solutions, or just get someone to like you. Brooks and John wrote the article “The Surprising Power of Questions” in the May–June 2018 issue of Harvard Business Review.
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