POWERFUL QUESTIONS
S I M P L E T R U T H : A S K I N G QU E S T I O N S C R E AT E S
MOVEMENT ...SIGNIFIC ANT MOVEMENT.
ALBERT EINSTEIN said,
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first
55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could
solve the problem in less than five minutes.”
F O R C ES AT WOR K I N T H E WOR L D
Robert’s Rules of Order
The Myth “I am not creative.”
Resistance to Change
The Focus and Reward is on the “Right” Answer
Our Educational System is based on Answers not Questions
Our Vocations Emphasize Fixing Problems not Fostering Breakthroughs
Our Preferred Perspective is Probability not Possibility
PRESENTED BY NICOLE GREER, PPCC
PRINCIPAL COACH AND FOUNDER VIBRANT COACHING
70 4- 502 -49 53
N IC O L E@ T HEV IBR A NT COACH .COM
QU E S T I O N S E D I F Y
Creating a Climate of Discovery
Suspending Premature Judgment
• BELIEFS
• HABITS
• HUMAN TRAITS
Exploring Beliefs
Listening for Connections
Capturing Ideas
YOU
Encouraging Diverse Perspectives
COMFORT ZONE
Honoring Everyone’s Contributions
Articulating Shared Understanding
Harvesting and Sharing Discoveries
ENVIRONMENT
FEELINGS
T H E D I M E N S I O N S O F A P OW E R F U L QU E S T I O N
CONSTRUCTION
SCOPE
ASSUMPTIONS
YOU 1 01
YOUR CO M FO RT Z ON E A ND
THE LEARNING ZONE
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the
work you have been given, and then sink yourself into
that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t
compare yourself with others. Each of you must take
responsibility for doing the creative best with your
own life.
-The Message
PRESENTED BY NICOLE GREER, PPCC
PRINCIPAL COACH AND FOUNDER VIBRANT COACHING
70 4- 502 -49 53
N IC O LE@ T HEV IBR A NT COACH .COM
CONSTRUCTION
The construction of a question can make a critical difference in either opening our minds or
narrowing the possibilities we consider.
Review the following key question construction words on a continuum from less powerful
questions to more powerful questions:
Yes/No Why Which Who When Where What How
Tell Me What is it like... What would it be like... What If
Now consider the construction of the following questions:
• Do you have a dream?
• What support does your dream need?
• Why aren’t you pursuing your dream?
•What is your dream like?
• What if you lived your best life? What is it like?
As you move from simple yes/no questions to what if, the question stimulates more reflective thinking
and more creative responses.
PRESENTED BY NICOLE GREER, PPCC
PRINCIPAL COACH AND FOUNDER VIBRANT COACHING
70 4- 502 -49 53
N IC O L E @ T HEV IBR A NT COACH .COM
SCOPE
The scope of a question must match the need
we are addressing or the discovery that we’re trying to make.
Note the impact of scope below:
How does your dream impact your future life?
How does your dream impact your family’s/friends future life?
How does your dream impact the future of the world?
A S S UMP T IO N S
Assumptions—Almost all questions, explicit or implicit, have some degree of assumptions built into
them.
Review and discuss the assumptions imbedded in the following sets of questions:
A. Why don't you see that things need to change?
B. What are the changes you need to make?
A. What is going wrong, and who is responsible?
B. What can you learn from what has happened, and what are the possibilities now?
A. How can you address the lack of action?
B. What are all the possibilities for you?
Which questions assume a solution? Which assume error or blame, leading to narrow
discussions or defensiveness? Which stimulate reflection, creativity, and/or collaboration
among those involved?
Examine each question for any unconscious beliefs it may introduce:
• What assumptions or beliefs are you introducing with this question?
PRESENTED BY NICOLE GREER, PPCC
PRINCIPAL COACH AND FOUNDER VIBRANT COACHING
70 4- 502 -49 53
N IC O L E@ T HEV IBR A NT COACH .COM
A QUES T I ON
A question is most powerful when neither the asker nor the responder
knows the answer until the question is answered.
Think about it. If we can ask questions that bring out fresh information,
we’ve brought about transformation and growth.
LISTENING LEVEL ONE
I NT ER NA L
• Listening to the words instead of the other person with the focus on what it means to me.
• Assessments, judgments, discernment, and analysis are going on in my head.
• The impact is on me -- my own thinking and clarity. I am wondering what to say next.
• Fact: This does not lead to insights about the other person.
L I S T E N I N G L E V E L T WO
FO CU S ED
• Listening for understanding - what is behind the words (values & qualities)
• Attention is with the other person - being more open and intuitive
• Acting like a mirror - being reflective about what is seen and heard
LISTENING LEVEL THREE
E X PA N S I V E
• Being fully present and feeling free to explore possibilities.
• Listening with all my senses.
• Noticing whatever wants to be noticed and offering it to the other person without attachment.
A NATO MY OF A QU ES T I ON
• Emanates from the heart of genuine curiosity.
• Is shaped by the mind into a format that is direct, simple and usually open-ended.
• Generates creative thinking and surfaces underlying information.
• Encourages self-reflection.
YOUR CHALLENGES
Questions for Focusing Attention
Questions for Connecting Ideas and Finding Deeper Insight
Questions that Create Forward Movement
PRESENTED BY NICOLE GREER, PPCC
PRINCIPAL COACH AND FOUNDER VIBRANT COACHING
70 4- 502 -49 53
N IC O LE@ T HEV IBR A NT COACH .COM