Have you noticed that as we get older, our ability to question declines? We start out life as this little bundle of energy that questions everything around us. Spend a few minutes with a toddler and you will see what I mean.
The reasons we don’t continue to question are vast and complex. We spend our lives collecting knowledge and then think it’s our responsibility to spout what we have learned like a lawn sprinkler spraying anyone walking by.
Ultimately, it’s our ability to ask questions, not our ability to have the answers, that can shift the path of a river or move a mountain. Indira Gandhi said, “The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” A little preplanning goes a long way. Before a conversation, identify questions you might ask. Simple, well-thought-out questions can change the path of a person, a team, an organization, and, yes, even the world.