Rediscovering the Power of Questions
Have you ever been there? In a meeting
and everyone is talking around you and past each other. But no one seems to be asking
the questions that should be asked. You try to frame your question and find your voice,
but it just never comes maybe because you’re too shy, maybe because your ego gets
in the way, or maybe you just don’t feel engaged with the
group or the issue at hand.Or, maybe because as a woman in higher education, you feel
no one will deem your question to be worthy of a response.
I’ve been there. In general, I like to think of myself as a good listener and a good
questioner. But,
sometimes my ego gets in the way, especially as my career has advanced. Now, I’m expected
to be the
expert. I’m supposed to have the answers. Lately, I find myself asking fewer questions,
and I am
missing opportunities for in the moment mentoring, for learning, for exchanging ideas,
and for
relationship building.
I recently read an article in the Harvard Business Review on “The Surprising Power
of Questions” of course written by two women in higher education, Drs. Alison Wood
Brooks and Leslie K. John. It
reminded me that by asking questions we naturally improve our emotional intelligence
and that if you
don’t ask, you don’t get I’m making a concerted effort to get back to asking questions
to rediscovering
my naturally inquisitive nature. I’ve also gained the confidence to know that all
of my questions are
worthy of a response. But, most importantly, I’m using my experience and knowledge
to ask better
questions. Questions that will get me where I want to go.
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