Saved by Andrew McCluskey and
To Question Is to Consider, Not Cancel
You don’t need to avoid these questions 100% of the time. They aren’t exactly toxic. It’s just that the responses are useless. The mistake is in valuing the answers, not in asking the questions. In fact, sometimes these questions can help you transition into more concrete questioning.
Rob Fitzpatrick • The Mom Test: How to talk to customers & learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you
Rule number one: Ask If you have a question to ask, ask it. Don’t beat around the bush. Ask away.
Rule number two: Ask why Don’t be the idiot that forgot to ask why. It’s perfectly normal to probe as part of a conversation.
So, if you don’t fully understand the answer, ask why.
Why do you say that?
Could you explain?
Jon Cohen • Asking for Trouble
looking stupid takes courage, and sometimes it’s easier to just let things slide. It is striking how many situations I am in where I start asking basic questions, feel guilty for slowing the group down, and it turns out that nobody understood what was going on to begin with
nabeelqu.co • Nabeelqu
How do you know? It’s a question we need to ask more often, both of ourselves and of others. The power lies in its frankness. It’s nonjudgmental—a straightforward expression of doubt and curiosity that doesn’t put people on the defensive.
Adam Grant • Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know
Careful with “why” questions – they might make people feel defensive. Try “how” and “what” questions – they convey curiosity better. Just beware of “how did it feel?” – it’s sometimes the most useless question you can ask.