I ask a lot of questions. No, I change a lot of my statements to questions. Why? It induces people to respond. As a rule, questions beget more responses than statements. That way, I'm sure to elicit an answer - from myself or from someone else - most of the time.
I naturally do ask a lot of questions - to myself. Even if it were intended to another person, I wait to ask. May be in the course of a talk or speech, my questions will be answered, instead of me jumping the gun. And many a time, I downplay my questions and don't ask them in public. I find it easier to approach someone and ask them questions face-to-face. This is also to create an opportunity to personally know someone.
Asking questions crystallizes ideas or problems. It is then easier to express or execute the idea and find solutions to problems. Asking the right question, to the right person, at the right time is an art. It comes to a few people naturally; to a lot of others, with practice.
So, if you need something, or an answer to something - ask a question.
P.S: There's been a book Just Ask by Ian Cooper that tells you why and how you should ask questions.
I naturally do ask a lot of questions - to myself. Even if it were intended to another person, I wait to ask. May be in the course of a talk or speech, my questions will be answered, instead of me jumping the gun. And many a time, I downplay my questions and don't ask them in public. I find it easier to approach someone and ask them questions face-to-face. This is also to create an opportunity to personally know someone.
Asking questions crystallizes ideas or problems. It is then easier to express or execute the idea and find solutions to problems. Asking the right question, to the right person, at the right time is an art. It comes to a few people naturally; to a lot of others, with practice.
So, if you need something, or an answer to something - ask a question.
P.S: There's been a book Just Ask by Ian Cooper that tells you why and how you should ask questions.
You're right, but what if the person I am asking the question to is an egocentric old hag who just throws her authority around and wants to one up me all-the-time?
ReplyDeleteHmmm... even an "egocentric old hag" (I think I know who you are referring too! ;-) will have that rare moment of sanity. But the probability of you utilizing that window of opportunity though, is very low.
ReplyDeleteJust get your question ready now and wait in the hope that you can peek through the hag's window of "good mood" :-D