What makes a rich question?

Rich questions create the kind of tension that adds meaningful value.

THINK ON IT: What makes a rich question?

Did you know that the nature of a question is to create tension?

See? The very nature of that question likely created some kind of tension in you to want to resolve it. Ask any question, and it will do the same thing–create a tension for resolution.

Great leaders know how to create tension to foster better decision making. They know how to ask good questions, because the better the question, the better the decision making.

Poor questions abound. They merely arrive at facts that don’t facilitate a deeper learning. Rich questions, on the other hand, uncover insights that might not have been readily apparent. They create a new frame from which to evaluate reality.

To illustrate, I can ask a science student what color the ocean is, and he or she will likely say some version of “blue.” I’m asking a question and getting a correct answer, but that’s where the usefulness stops. 

If I want learning to occur, I won’t ask a simple question with a well-known fact for an answer. I’ll ask a question that leads the student toward a scientific principle that I want him or her to learn. Maybe “Why is the ocean blue in some locations, and more green in others?” This can lead us to learning about the spectrum of visible light and how chemicals in the ocean contribute to algae growth or even to discussing the different types of sand that cover the ocean floor and how it contributes to color variation. 

The tension of a poor question would have elicited a quick answer, merely to satisfy the tension of the question. Rich questions can be measured by how long it takes to resolve the tension of the question. Did it create new insights and learning that weren’t there before?

In your business, you can ask “Is our revenue higher or lower this year compared to last?” That question can be (or should be able to be) quickly resolved.

Asking, “What factors are contributing to a change in our revenue year-over-year?” is less obvious and requires a deeper, more thoughtful assessment to resolve. And, most importantly, it promotes learning about the factors that affect revenue, the subject of your question.

Take a moment and reflect on questions you've been asking about your business. Are they rich questions that promote useful learning when resolved? Or are you asking poor questions just to placate a fear?

Remember, if you’re going to create tension by asking a question, make sure it serves a richer purpose.

“Seeking answers can be its own treadmill. Changing the question enables one to step off." — Edwin Friedman

---

Thanks for being a subscriber to Strategic CEO. If you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend or colleague.

---

Premium subscribers: Read on for how to ask rich questions in your business.

Not a premium subscriber and want to keep reading? Upgrade to paid here.

---