The Art of Asking Powerful Questions HCM Module

The Art of Asking Powerful Questions HCM Module 6

“The quality and impact of your questions is directly proportional to the depth of your listening ability. ” William

The Question is…

What is most Empowering? • Making bold, brash statements to your clients? • Giving them mental/spiritual koans to ponder? • Sitting in silence with them while they access their wisdom? • Asking them questions that reveal the inner riches that are already there? • Answer on next slide…

All have their place. • And in this session we are practicing the power and use of questions • For this reason: They can deny anything that you say to them internally or externally. • And if you can get them to say it through questions, they cannot deny themselves! • Finally, it respects their ability to discover and access their internal riches.

Begin with Open Questions What do you think you could do? What are the possibilities being offered to you? What is in your way?

Why Open Questions? • Open questions allow for the imagination and breadth of their experience to be searched • Even if you believe that you know where they will go, they will oft times surprise you (Manfred in Germany) • They work well when followed by silence • And there always exceptions to this - “Trust the Context Luuuuke!” Darth Vader as Coach

Then get more specific or say, “Tell me more. ” You may also find it helpful to go back and forth between open, more info, another open, mix in a closed question (relaxes a client in a blind-spot), some leading, and a “What if… or Have you considered? ”

Why Questions? "The important thing is to never stop questioning. ” A. Einstein • Questions are keys to learning. • Questions are a window into creativity and insight. • Questions stimulate fresh thinking. • Questions challenge outmoded assumptions. • Questions help us to create the future. • Questions give us more context. • Questions lead us to find better questions.

What is a Powerful Question? 8 Aspects of Powerful Questions

A powerful question… • Stimulates reflective thinking. • Challenges assumptions. • Is thought-provoking. • Generates energy and a vector to explore. • Channels inquiry, promises insight. • Is broad and enduring. • Touches a deeper meaning. • Evokes more questions.

Kinds of Questions • Curiosity Questions, “I am curious as to how you do that, could you tell me? ” • Clarifying Questions, “Could you be more specific? ” • Possibility Questions, “If you were guaranteed success, what would you do? ” • Golden Questions. “If you had your dream, how would you feel? ” • Gold-mining Questions “What are you most proud of today? ”

• Interpretation Questions “What meaning do you put on that event? ” • Turn Around Questions “How could you reverse this pattern today, now? ” • The Magic Questions “What would make this a successful session, (meeting, conversation…) for you today? ” • Pattern Interrupt Questions “Are you empathizing or enabling her? ” • Key Moment Questions “What is that feeling that just came over your face? ”

• Disempowering Questions “Why am I so stupid? or Why do I do this every time? ” • Empowering Questions “How can I do ______ and enjoy the process? ” • Life Changing Questions “When do you want to start living your life without the brakes on? ” • Goal/Future Vision Questions “Where can you envision yourself a year from now? ” • 5 Serving Men Series “I have five faithful serving men. Their names are who, what, where, why and when. ”

Trust Yourself! And Experiment