Questions: Your Underappreciated Superpower.
“He explained to me with great insistence that every question possessed a power that did not lie in the answer.”
In a world that often rushes to find answers, we forget that questions hold a hidden power – the power to transform our understanding, relationships, work, and lives. Questions are more than a tool for gathering information; they're how we learn, grow, and challenge the status quo.
Early in my career, I was facilitating a meeting with leaders from 30 mental health and social service organizations. These organizations were in fierce competition for resources, which made collaboration challenging. Our goal was to find better ways to support children and youth with complex health needs. But the conversation kept hitting roadblocks. The common refrain in the room was: "The system is the problem."
I took a moment and asked a simple question: "Who is the system?"
Silence filled the room. Then, after a meaningful pause, someone spoke up: "Well, we are."
That single question shifted the entire dynamic. The conversation moved from combative to collaborative, away from excuses and blame towards root causes and solutions. It was a powerful reminder of how one well-placed question can shift perspectives and unlock a conversation.
The Multifaceted Power of Questions
As David Brooks eloquently puts it in his book How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen, questions are not just about gathering information; they are vehicles for understanding, connection, and transformation. When we ask questions, we invite others to share their perspectives, reveal their vulnerabilities, and deepen our relationships. Questions can:
Foster Empathy: By seeking to understand others' perspectives, we build empathy and strengthen relationships.
Create Shared Meaning: Questions can help us discover common ground and build a shared understanding of our goals and values.
Spark Collective Intelligence: When everyone feels safe to question and contribute, the team becomes more creative and innovative.
Uncover Hidden Truths: Questions challenge assumptions, expose underlying motivations, and lead to novel solutions.
Ignite Curiosity and Learning: Questions spark our innate desire to explore and discover, expanding our understanding of the world.
Empower and Engage: Questions give people a voice and ownership, inviting participation and fostering collaboration.
The Neuroscience of Curiosity
Asking questions isn't merely a cognitive exercise; it's also a biological process. While research on the neuroscience of questions is still emerging, studies suggest that posing a question activates the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure, learning, and motivation (Kang et al., 2009). This neurological response makes questioning inherently engaging and reinforces that questions are fundamental to learning and growth. Additionally, some research and theoretical frameworks suggest that the process of reflection and seeking answers may indirectly promote a relaxed state of mind, potentially through the involvement of serotonin, another neurotransmitter associated with well-being (Young, 2007; Christoff et al., 2016). This relaxed state could enhance our ability to gather information, find answers, and develop innovative solutions (van der Zwan et al., 2018).
Different types of questions may activate different areas of the brain. For instance, "why" questions engage the prefrontal cortex, a region involved in critical thinking and reasoning—essential for analyzing cause-and-effect relationships and evaluating underlying reasons (Gruber et al., 2014). Meanwhile, "how" and "what" questions can engage the limbic system, associated with emotions and memory, potentially creating a stronger emotional connection to the information being processed, which could contribute to enhanced memory retention as suggested by research on curiosity and memory (Kang et al., 2009). This involvement of multiple brain regions highlights why questions are so powerful—they engage us on both intellectual and emotional levels, fostering a deeper connection to the material and enhancing memory retention.
The Power of Self-Inquiry
While we often focus on questioning others, directing questions inward is equally transformative. By asking ourselves thought-provoking questions, we embark on self-discovery, uncovering hidden motivations, challenging limiting beliefs, and clarifying our values. Questions like "What do I truly care about?", or "What legacy do I want to leave behind?" can guide us towards greater self-awareness and a more fulfilling life.
The Art of Asking Powerful Questions
Not all questions are created equal. The most powerful questions are open-ended, non-judgmental, and invite deeper reflection. Here's how to ask better questions:
Ask "How" and "What" Questions: These open-ended questions invite exploration and encourage others to share their thoughts and feelings.
For example, instead of asking, "Are you happy with the new project management software?", ask, "How has the new project management software impacted your workflow?"
Be Genuinely Curious: Approach questions with a sincere desire to learn and understand, not to judge or criticize.
Instead of, "Why did you make that decision?", ask, "Can you walk me through your thought process behind that decision?"
Ask Questions That Spark Storytelling: Invite people to share their stories and experiences. This can reveal deeper insights into their motivations, values, and perspectives.
Instead of asking, "What are your career goals?", ask, "Tell me about a time when you felt truly passionate about your work. What made that experience so meaningful?"
Practice Active Listening: Pay attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues, and respond thoughtfully to what you hear. Ask clarifying questions to show you're engaged and interested in what they have to say. Reflect back in your own words to confirm and build a sense of shared understanding.
In a world where answers are readily available, we must not underestimate the superpower that lies within the questions we ask. Questions can transform our understanding and in doing so, our relationships, our work, and the world around us. They are the key to unlocking new perspectives, fostering deeper connections, and driving innovation.
In Part 2 of this post, we'll reveal steps you can take to transform your workplace into a question-powered engine of innovation and growth.
References:
Christoff, K., Irving, Z. C., Fox, K. C., Spreng, R. N., & Andrews-Hanna, J. R. (2016). Mind-wandering as spontaneous thought: A dynamic framework. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 17(11), 718-731.
Gruber, M. J., Gelman, B. D., & Ranganath, C. (2014). States of curiosity modulate hippocampus-dependent learning via the dopaminergic circuit. Neuron, 84(2), 486-496.
Kang, M. J., Hsu, M., Krajbich, I. M., Loewenstein, G., McClure, S. M., Wang, J. T., & Camerer, C. F. (2009). The wick in the candle of learning: epistemic curiosity activates reward circuitry and enhances memory. Psychological science, 20(8), 963–973. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02402.x
Young, S. N. (2007). How to increase serotonin in the human brain without drugs. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 32(6), 394-399.
van der Zwan, J. E., Seldenrijk, A., & Roozendaal, B. (2018). Stress effects on cognitive flexibility: The mediating role of cortisol and working memory. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 155, 284-291.
