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Want to change the world? Learn to ask powerful questions. A business school professor once told me “Leadership is not about knowing the right answers, but about asking the right questions”.

What is a Powerful Question?

A powerful question makes you reflect beyond the obvious. Thus, it creates awareness. It opens doors to deeper understanding and may alter your course. Introspection, for example, requires this type of inquiry. Social leaders ask powerful questions to move society and enact change.

Powerful questions tend to be open-ended, yet simple. They denote curiosity. Remember to listen and allow people to think.

My Go-To 5 Powerful Questions

I ask these questions frequently, in all kinds of scenarios.

Why?

There’s a reason why this is the favorite question of both toddlers and researchers. It is the quintessential discovery query. Without “why”, we wouldn’t have progress or compromise. One of my favorite exercises to investigate root causes is Toyota’s 5 Whys.

Another powerful variant is to ask “why not”.

What is Important?

This question encourages you to focus on what matters. People tend to look at what is convenient or urgent. So, asking “what is important to me?” or “what is important here?” centers the conversation.

Is That Your Perception or Reality?

Ask this question to explore limiting beliefs. Just because you think something doesn’t make it true. This distinction brings awareness to other possibilities.

In What Way?

Intrigued? Then, ask this clarifying question. It helps you understand where someone is coming from. It also encourages them to move forward in their thought process.

Are You Moving Towards Something or Away from Something?

I learned this one during my Advanced Communications classes at the Coachville Center for Coaching Mastery. It always yields interesting results since people rarely consider it. The answer is usually high impact.

Knowledge is having the answer. Wisdom is asking the question.

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