3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Asking Powerful Questions
3 Ideas in 2 Minutes on Asking Powerful Questions
Socratic Questioning, Funnel Questioning & Intellectual Instruments
I. Socratic Questioning
Named after philosopher Socrates, Socratic Questioning is all about thoughtful dialogue. The ancient Greek was known for asking his students six types of questions to guide them towards the truth:
Clarifications and deep thinking: What do you mean? Can you elaborate? What would be an example?
Challenging assumptions: Why do you think that? Is there anything else we can assume? Are people always like that?
Questioning evidence and reasoning: How do you know? Can you think of a counterargument? Why does A follow from B?
Eliciting alternative viewpoints: What other perspectives do people have on this issue? Can you compare your view to that of…? What would you reply if someone said…?
Implications: What follows from this assumption? Why is this the best course of action? So what?
Questioning the question itself: What do you think caused me to ask this question? What makes it a good question? What’s a question I haven’t asked that I should ask?
Socratic Questioning is an essential critical thinking tool. It not only works on others. We can use the technique to reflect on ourselves, too.
II. Funnel Questioning
A huge part of eliciting information is about listening to answers and guiding the respondent accordingly. There are two basic directions a conversation can go: into more detail or less. Using Funnel Questions, you can channel a conversation both ways.
To get a higher-resolution picture and to narrow down a conversation, we can ask: Can you tell me more about this? or What do you mean exactly?
To get a lower-resolution picture and broaden the conversation, we can ask: What’s the idea behind all this? or What else is new?
There’s no need to remember specific questions. As long as we have a goal in mind, we can think in terms of Funnel Questions to help someone explore a topic and get closer to the truth.
III. Intellectual Instruments
The great thing about questions is that they are available to virtually anyone. Cultural critic Neil Postman put it best:
Everything we know has its origins in questions. Questions, we might say, are the principal intellectual instruments available to human beings.
—Neil Postman
For more on the power of asking questions, check out How to Ask Good Questions: 5 Ways to Discover the Truth and my bonus newsletter on 5 Questions to Avoid. 🐘
Have a great week,
Chris
themindcollection.com
P.S.: Check out my latest post on Dunning-Kruger Effect: How to Cringe Yourself to Success.