The most powerful question one can ask is simple, short, and
effective. “Why?” is probably one of the most commonly heard
questions and, not only one of the most difficult to answer, but
also the most difficult to satisfy. We like to call "Why?" a
helper question. "Why" is a question that can help steer the
conversation into your critical path and towards the answer that
you're seeking.
When one asks “why” they are tapping into their curiosity,
and we all know that our curiosity is extremely difficult to satisfy
with a single, one-worded answer. Why? And why is “why” such a
powerful word?
The Thirst for Knowledge and Understanding Asking open-ended
“why” questions can begin a tricky situation that starts with one
“why” and can snowball into a “why” after “why” fiasco (just
think of the hilarity of a child asking their parents one “why”
after another!). If you don’t satisfy the knowledge seeker’s
original thirst, another why ensues and it snowballs from there.
CHALLENGE: As a seeker of knowledge (which I wholly believe
that we all are, especially the team of ACQYR readers) we have to
ask the tough questions, and never lose our thirst for knowledge
and understanding. Curiosity is what drives us to succeed and
further develop our craving for knowledge. We must never lose our
curiosity and our drive.
Everything is a Why…
You probably read the title and thought, “huh?” Well, think for a
minute about what it means. Almost every question one can ask can
be formed as a “why” statement and every single “why” question is
an open-ended question. “What are you feeling right now?” yields
a closed-ended answer (i.e. “Fine.”). Replaced by a “why”, yields
a more effective result: “Why are you feeling the way you do?”
produces a thought-out answer that better provides a level of
understanding of the overall situation. You can’t get a one-word
answer with a “why,” and if you do, your thirst for clarity and
knowledge isn’t satisfied. If it isn’t satisfied, it is our
personal duty to continue (within reason of course) to seek out
answers.
CHALLENGE: Try to learn and think of new ways of phrasing our
questions to obtain the most optimum and desirable answers.
Open-ended questions provide a better understanding of the
underlying circumstances and often produce candid (frequently
unexpected)pieces of information that could have been easily
withheld with close-ended questions.
If your manager, subordinates or co- workers aren't producing as
you'd like, give them the "why" treatment and inquire about their
performance (be professional, but nice!).
If you ask the right questions, you'll yield the answers you're
looking for.
© Copyright 2004, Ronnie Nijmeh, ACQYR.com. The ACQYR team
provides the masses with witty yet strategic ideas leading to self-
improvement and growth. For more information and exciting, fresh
motivational articles, visit: http://www.acqyr.com
Live. Learn. ACQYR.
About the Author
ACQYR is a business resource with fresh knowledge, ideas, and motivational strategies. With articles like: "Build Rapport Through Buzzwords", "Make Mistakes. It's Okay. Really!", and "The Key's in the Hole. Now turn it!" the ACQYR team provides the masses with witty yet strategic ideas leading to self-improvement and growth. Don't forget to subscribe to receive updates from ACQYR: http://www.acqyr.com.