What Exactly Is a Good Question?

There are no fixed, black-and-white rules that determine that one question is good and another is lousy. For example: “Why?” can be a wonderful question. It can be an unexpectedly insightful question that penetrates to the core of the issue. But “Why?” can also be a terrible question. It can come across as cynical, critical, and reproachful—especially when asked of a subordinate or a child.

Nonetheless, power questions have certain characteristics. They may embody one or more of the following characteristics.

Power questions are questions that:

Dig under the surface to uncover root causes and underlying causes

Help clarify the issues and focus the conversation

Create a common vocabulary and a common understanding of the situation

Uncover other peoples’ dreams, ambitions, and aspirations

Help you understand and connect with others’ most important priorities and needs

Push people to see their own experiences and issues from a new perspective

Test for alignment and consistency

Help the other person reach his or her own conclusions

Reframe the problem

Create learning

Inspire commitment

Generally, open-ended questions are more fruitfull then closed-ended questions. But SOMETIMES you need a closed-ended questions. As in, "Is it a Yes or a No?"!

Finally, good questions are authentic and sincere. They don’t manipulate. They are not cynical or sarcastic.