Brenda Kassir, Strategy Director, Cheil MEAA few days ago I was exploring LLM’s ability to process Arabic culture and language (which is very basic) and I found a wonderful article “We need AI that thinks in Arabic and can grasp nuance” by Luma Makari in The National.
One of the examples she uses is how meaning is lost when AI translates the Arabic concept of “tarab” into “musical enchantment”. Anyone who has ever been moved by Arabic ‘Tarab’ knows that “musical enchantment” doesn’t convey the mesmerisation of Tarab to its listener.
A few clicks later, my investigation into AI ended up in me signing up to a Maqam class by the wonderful Maya Youssef. This is the power of curiosity at work in everyday (digital) life.
But curiosity isn’t just a personality trait (or one that the algorithm manipulates to send me down a rabbit hole) — it’s the foundation for personal and professional growth and innovation. Curiosity signals a hungry mind and willingness to solve problems
Research consistently shows that curious minds are more likely to:
- Discover creative solutions to complex problems
- Adapt to changing environments
- Build deeper relationships with colleagues and mentors
- Identify opportunities others might miss
And a big element of curiosity is learning from others, which implies asking the right questions and keeping an open mind.
Psychology behind effective questions
Now, the adage goes “there’s no such thing as a bad question” but I beg to differ. I think the manner in which we ask questions significantly impacts the quality of answers we receive. Badly asked questions are a hindrance rather than a help.
So much so, that at times I find myself re-structuring questions to help clarify the thinking. Students of critical thinking techniques are taught the principle of charity.
This principle implies that when faced with an argument with missing parts, we should reconstruct the opposing argument in as charitable way as possible in order arrive at the truth (assuming our objective is to arrive at the truth not merely win an argument).
Similarly, in order to frame a challenge and get the right answers or solutions, we must first ask the right questions.
More than that, asking the right questions, or asking questions the right way, not only fosters innovation, but creates psychological safety that enables meaningful dialogue – a feature sorely missed in many conversations and meetings these days.
Of course, questions should be tailored to suit the context whether it’s leadership discussions, product development meetings, communication and content development or even qualitative user testing.
So, here are my own school of hard knocks guidelines for asking questions in an effective way whether in an interview or workshop scenario.
- Do your homework. Don’t ask questions that verify lack of preparation on the subject matter. Taking time to research the basics shows respect for others’ time and enables more productive conversations that build on existing knowledge rather than covering established ground.
- Well structured questions are not interrogations. According to Kate Murphy, Author of ‘You’re Not Listening’, asking questions is a value exchange. It shouldn’t be a soul sucking exercise. If you are asking a peer or a mentor for insights, you should acknowledge their generosity and wisdom. Frame questions as collaborative exploration rather than demands for information. Open-ended questions yield more detailed and thoughtful answers.
- Don’t ask personal questions. Not everyone is comfortable being vulnerable. Even close friends value privacy regarding their personal information or experiences at times. Ask whether a person would mind offering advice. If you sense someone has a boundary around certain types of information it doesn’t mean they are unwilling to help, they can be more comfortable providing broad considerations to keep in mind before making a decision, without divulging intricacies of their own decision making. Or they can help you narrow down a search by suggesting a shortlist.
- The art of listening. Keep a beginners mind. Remain curious and don’t assume you know the answers. Let the conversation guide you. Listen to hear not just to say what you already know. Practice active listening by giving full attention, avoiding interruptions, and acknowledging what you’ve heard before responding.
- Ask people to elaborate in non-judgmental way. If asking questions is a way to establish meaningful dialogue and tease out ideas, we need to ask them in a way that makes people comfortable to expand on their answers, rather than making them defensive. One of the first things I was taught as a qualitative researcher was never to ask ‘why’. Why tends to makes the person answering become defensive, feeling the need to justify their answer. A better way to ask people to elaborate is to say “what do you mean by that?”
Art of probing to open up discussion
The most innovative companies cultivate cultures where questions are valued as much as answers. They recognising that breakthrough thinking often begins with challenging assumptions through thoughtful inquiry and exploration.
Below are some expansive prompts that are helpful in opening up possibilities for problem solving rather than constricting it and limiting discussion.
- “What is one thing you hope will be radically different in the future than it is today?” This question invites visionary thinking and helps identify aspirational goals.
- “How might we (…)” This framing presents challenges as opportunities and invites collaborative problem-solving without prematurely closing off possibilities.
- “What if (…)” Hypothetical questions encourage breaking free from current constraints and imagining new possibilities without immediate judgment.
- “What do we want (x) to think, feel or do?” This question refocuses discussions on desired outcomes and user-centered design principles.
- “Can we look at this in another way?” This gentle prompt encourages perspective-shifting without implying current viewpoints are wrong.
- “You know what’s a funny way to look at this?” Using humor can reduce defensiveness and open creative channels of thinking.
- “We usually think about it like this (x) but can we think about it like (y)?” This acknowledges existing paradigms while inviting exploration of alternatives.
- “It’s not that it is (x), it’s just that now we have (y)”. This reframing helps move from problem-focused to solution-focused thinking.
- “What’s the opposite of (x)?” Exploring opposites can reveal overlooked possibilities and challenge assumptions.
- “What would need to change for (x) to happen?” This question bridges visionary thinking with practical action steps.
- “What is it about (x) that makes you think (y)?” This probe explores underlying assumptions without triggering defensiveness.
Only in recent years, have I developed the confidence to break free from the need to have all the answers. This has provided a sense of freedom and as a result I have become better at harnessing and helping others develop breakthrough thinking.
It has helped me and those around me become less anxious, allowing us to flow rather than fixate on getting things right.
By following these guidelines and practicing expansive questioning techniques, we create environments where curiosity and creativity flourish and breakthrough thinking emerges.
By Brenda Kassir, Strategy Director, Cheil MEA
