In modern work settings, it is essential to cultivate productive discussions for achieving success. While providing guidance is commonly done with good intentions, adopting a question-based approach can substantially improve communication and comprehension. Asana, a leading work management platform, advocates for the advantages of this technique. Let's delve into the reasons why prioritising asking questions over offering advice can positively impact workplace exchanges, and explore effective strategies for implementing this approach.

The Power of Questions in the Workplace

One powerful tool for sparking dialogue and encouraging diverse perspectives is the art of asking questions. This approach can foster a more profound comprehension and support collaborative problem-solving in the workplace. Here are some key advantages of utilising questions in a professional setting:

Encourages Participation and Engagement

When leaders actively ask thoughtful questions during team meetings and discussions, it sends a clear message to their team members that their input is highly valued. This approach fosters a culture where employees feel empowered to share their thoughts and ideas openly, ultimately creating a more inclusive and engaged work environment. By demonstrating a sincere interest in hearing diverse perspectives, leaders can effectively cultivate a collaborative and innovative workplace where everyone's contributions are acknowledged and respected.

Promotes Critical Thinking

Analysing questions stimulates critical thinking by encouraging individuals to thoroughly examine various situations and take into account different perspectives. This process can result in the generation of more innovative and effective solutions, as well as improved decision-making abilities.

Builds Trust and Rapport

Demonstrating empathy and genuine interest in others' opinions by asking thoughtful questions can be a powerful way to build trust and rapport within a team. This approach fosters a more supportive and cohesive team dynamic, as it shows that each team member's input is valued and respected.

Facilitates Learning and Development

Leaders can foster a culture of continuous learning and development by using thoughtful questioning techniques to help guide their team members toward discovering their own solutions. By doing so, team members can gain confidence in their problem-solving abilities, which contributes to their overall growth and development within the organisation.

Enhances Clarity and Understanding

Asking questions can play a crucial role in clarifying misunderstandings and ensuring that all parties involved are aligned and have a shared understanding. By posing thoughtful inquiries, it becomes possible to deconstruct intricate issues into more manageable components. This approach facilitates the effective and efficient tackling of challenges.

Techniques for Shifting from Advising to Asking Insightful Questions

Transitioning from a directive teaching approach, where the teacher leads instruction, to one that emphasises inquiry-based learning, where students actively explore and discover concepts, can be a challenging but highly rewarding process for educators. Implementing an inquiry-based approach can lead to increased student engagement, critical thinking skills, and deeper learning. Here are some specific techniques to help facilitate this shift in teaching approach:

Adopt a Curious Mindset

Remember to cultivate curiosity by genuinely wanting to understand others' perspectives. When approaching conversations, keep an open mind and be ready to learn from what your team members have to share. By actively seeking to understand and learn from others, you can create a more inclusive and collaborative environment within your team.

Today's generation is shaped by a startup and content creator mindset. They are often self-starters and do not respond to the same tactics used a decade ago. As managers, we need to help them plan better, structure their work, find purpose and growth in their careers, and guide them toward achieving a good work-life balance.

Embracing curiosity can help managers better connect with today's generation and guide them to produce better work while providing them with stability. Asking questions will only help strengthen creative teams.

Use Open-Ended Questions

Encouraging expansive thinking and eliciting deeper responses, open-ended questions are designed to promote meaningful dialogue. Instead of seeking simple "yes" or "no" answers, it's beneficial to frame questions that start with "how," "why," or "what." For instance, rather than inquiring, "Do you think this project is on track?" you can ask, "What are the current challenges you're facing with this project?" or “How do you think the team can collaborate to meet our current project deadlines?”

Practise Active Listening

Active listening is a communication technique that involves giving your full attention to the speaker, understanding their message, and responding in a considerate manner. To demonstrate active listening, it's important to maintain eye contact with the speaker, nod to show understanding, and provide verbal affirmations such as "I see" or "I understand" to show that you are engaged in the conversation.

Reflect and Paraphrase

When someone is speaking, take the time to reflect upon their points and rephrase what they've said to ensure that you've understood them correctly. Not only does this demonstrate that you're actively listening, but it also helps to clarify the conversation. For instance, you could say, "If I understand correctly, you're saying that the tight deadline is the primary factor affecting your progress. Is that right?"

Encourage Self-Reflection

Encourage team members to take some time to reflect on their experiences and thoughts related to the project. By doing so, they can gain a deeper understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses and make more informed decisions in the future. For instance, you can ask questions like, "In your opinion, what aspects of this project were successful, and what areas do you think need improvement?"

Balance Questions with Patience

Make sure to create an environment that allows team members to take their time to respond. Avoid the temptation to immediately offer advice or fill the silence. Give everyone the opportunity to carefully think through their answers and express them in their own words.

Use Follow-Up Questions

Engaging in follow-up questions demonstrates your genuine interest in understanding the topic at a deeper level and allows for a more thorough exploration of ideas. For example, asking, "Can you elaborate on the obstacles you're encountering? How do you think we could address them?" encourages a more comprehensive discussion of the challenges and potential solutions.

Model the Behaviour

Lead by example by consistently using open-ended and thought-provoking questions in your day-to-day interactions with your team. When you ask questions that encourage critical thinking and exploration, you set the tone for a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement. Over time, your team will observe and learn from your approach, leading to a natural adoption of this mindset. As a result, you will cultivate an environment where questioning, learning, and growth are valued and embedded in the team's work ethic.

Conclusion

Fostering constructive conversations in the workplace is essential for building strong teams and driving innovation. One effective way to achieve this is by prioritising asking questions over giving advice. When leaders focus on asking more questions, they create an environment that encourages active participation, critical thinking, trust, and learning. This approach helps to foster collaboration and innovation within the organisation.

To shift the focus from giving advice to asking insightful questions, leaders can adopt a curious mindset and utilise open-ended questions. Active listening and encouraging self-reflection are also valuable techniques for promoting a culture of questioning and learning. By implementing these strategies, organisations can expect to see improved communication, stronger relationships, and more effective problem-solving among team members.

Overall, by prioritising questions over advice, leaders empower their teams and nurture a culture of curiosity and growth, which are essential for long-term success in the workplace.

Fostering Conversations: Why Asking More Questions and Giving Less Advice Works