Great Leaders Ask Great Questions: Here Are 3 Steps to Up Your Questioning Game.

Reactions often come without a filter, without much thought or analysis, and without taking time to consider possible implications. Even if a reaction isn’t intense or negative, it disrupts communication.

Listening begins with silence. Because it creates a void, silence may cause some discomfort, but it is an effective way to enhance learning. During the silence, the speaker will fill the void, often revealing more information; hence, you learn more. Silence signals that you are fully engaged; you are listening intently, considering what is being sh

Here are three practical open-ended ways to start a conversation:

1. Help me understand.


2. Have you considered … ?


3. What surprised you?

Passive listening also involves listening closely to the speaker but without reacting. Instead, passive listening leaves space for silence. By combining both of these modes, we achieve what we call effective listening.

There are three basic steps to building an inquisitive culture:

1. Start with an open-ended question.


2. Respond, don’t react. Embrace silence.


3. Ask a stream of questions.

One of the most powerful response techniques is the ability to ask questions. Questions frame the issue, remove ambiguity, expose gaps, reduce risk, give permission to engage, enable dialogue, uncover opportunities, and help to pressure-test logic. Questions that are informed, thoughtful, and relevant advance learning.

A response is thoughtful, logical, and informed. Responding uses your head and your heart to consider the outcomes of a reply before speaking. Responding is thoughtful; it involves taking time and using silence to process new information.