What is it FOR?
This is hands-down my favorite question. Stemming from the thought-provoking work of marketing and entrepreneurship guru Seth Godin, “What is it FOR?” is a multi-purpose question that encourages you to look closely at both tangible and intangible goals. A meeting might be for getting the right people together in a room to make a key decision… and it might also be for asserting your leadership over a group of people. (It’s actually strikingly close to the concept of affordances!)
What change are you seeking?
Closely aligned to “What is it FOR?” this question frames problems in a way that helps get at motivation and success factors. If you can imagine the way things will look, the way people will behave, and how one’s perspective might have shifted, you can also imagine some of the steps it will take to get there. In terms of a social learning perspective, this type of inquiry helps identify gaps in the fabric of organizational life.
How can I help?
This question may need some explaining. The question itself comes from the book The Coaching Habit, and I love it because it addresses my (former) habit of jumping right into problem-solving mode without taking a step back to understand / identify the actual problem. For example, my staff often come to me with their challenges. Of course I want to be a great boss and remove all obstacles to their success… so I start solving their problem. But sometimes they’re not looking for a solution, they’re looking for validation. Or a sounding board. Or just an outlet for their grievances. I use this question once I’ve listened to what they’ve brought to me; a surprising number of times it causes people to pause and say, “Actually, I don’t need help, I just wanted you to understand what was going on. I’ve got this.” Which is good for both me (because I save time, and feel good about my staff’s ability to operate independently) and them (because they feel trusted and capable of solving their own problems).
When will all of the rhetorical questions end?
Comedian George Carlin’s tongue-in-cheek question makes me laugh every time. After all, being a good questioner also means having the ability to laugh (sometimes at one’s self) and reflect on the absurdity of life.