How to ask better questions

How Do I Ask Better Questions: Asking For a Friend with Chad Littlefield [VIDEO]

by | Jul 28, 2022 | Asking For a Friend Featured, By Karin Hurt |

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Want to Ask Better Questions? Stop Asking Why. Here’s Why…

In this week’s Asking for a Friend, I talk with Chad Littlefield, Co-Author of Ask Better Questions.

Chad and I met at an industry conference where we were both speaking and discovered many shared interests including creating psychological safety and encouraging deeper, more meaningful conversations and swimming. In fact, I think he’s the only “Asking for a Friend guest so far (besides David) who has seen me in a swimsuit and goggles;-)

Chad’s Approach to Asking Better Questions

From “Why” to “What and How”

To build deeper trust and connection, ask better questions. Chad recommends asking  “What” and “How” instead of “Why.”

We’re hard-wired to ask “why” questions. After all, we’ve been practicing them since we were two years old. Starting with “what” and “why” can help you be more focused and deliberate as you seek to create an authentic conversation.

Asking “why” can put people on the defensive as they work to justify their actions or behavior. Asking “what” and “how” make it easier to show genuine curiosity.

For example, consider what responses you might get to these two questions:

“WHY did you finish the project so fast?”
to
“HOW were you able to finish the project so fast?”

Your “how question” comes across as genuinely curious, looking for best practices.

OR

WHY did you do it that way?
to
WHAT was your approach?

Again, when you start your question with “what,” it feels feels curious and supportive.

And today, I leave you with two important WHAT and HOW questions to continue the conversation.

1. WHAT are you most curious about right now?
2. HOW do you use open-ended questions to create deeper trust and connection?

 

Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today!

  Want more human-centered leaders in the workplace? Share this today!

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Karin Hurt

Karin Hurt helps human-centered leaders find clarity in uncertainty, drive innovation, and achieve breakthrough results.  She’s the founder and CEO of Let’s Grow Leaders, an international leadership development and training firm known for practical tools and leadership development programs that stick. She’s the award-winning author of four books including Courageous Cultures: How to Build Teams of Micro-Innovators, Problem Solvers, and Customer Advocates and Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, and a hosts the popular Asking For a Friend Vlog on LinkedIn. A former Verizon Wireless executive, Karin was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of great leadership speakers. Karin and her husband and business partner, David Dye, are committed to their philanthropic initiative, Winning Wells – building clean water wells for the people of Cambodia.

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Be More Daring

BUILD CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND CONNECTION WITH CONSISTENT ACTS OF MANAGERIAL COURAGE

Get the FREE Courageous Cultures E-Book to learn how

7 Practical Ways to be a Bit More Daring

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