How to ask better (and more) questions
It’s very tempting to launch straight into an answer or comment when you’re in a conversation with another person and many of us tend to listen to respond, rather than listen to understand.
I’ve learned over the years that listening - truly listening - and observing reactions, reading between the lines and paying attention to my conversation partners is not just important but also a fascinating exercise. And to satisfy my analytical mind, I’ve learned to ask more questions, to be more inquisitive when having a conversation.
Admittedly, it takes a lot more effort than simply responding to a statement. But it’s much more productive and satisfying in the long-run.
For today’s video I brought three books on the topic. These three books are very different from one another and I enjoyed reading them. They’ve given me a lot of ideas and inspiration and have helped me improve how I communicate with others.
Becoming a better listener is an ongoing exercise. Asking better and more questions is part of that for me. I want to give others more ‘airtime’ because I already know my own stories, but I can only find out their’s when I stop talking and give them the stage.
My recommendations include:
