🕑 4 minute read
The remarkable aspect of high-quality questions lies in their ability to elicit high-quality answers.
In my quest for solutions, I often find myself on an endless search for 'the answer.'
I become fixated on the idea that there is a single, elusive solution to my problems, and I must discover it.
I found this perspective to be limiting my potential for growth and innovation so I started considering a different approach: I stopped looking for 'the answer' and started looking for higher quality questions.
When I pose a high-quality question, I open the door to a world of possibilities. It's not just about finding ONE answer; it's about exploring MULTIPLE high-quality answers.
See, if I were to ask the human race, "What is the best way to dance?" the answers would be as diverse as the people on this planet—because we are all unique, with our own experiences, preferences, and insights.
Over the last two years, I have discovered that the pursuit of a singular answer to my problems was not as helpful as I once thought.
My challenges and circumstances are unique to me, and therefore, the solutions should reflect that uniqueness.
I started mastering the art of asking higher quality questions. By asking better questions, I unlock a treasure trove of perspectives, insights, and solutions. I invite the wisdom within me—and of others—and embrace the richness of diverse viewpoints.
Master the art of asking high-quality questions and you will discover a path to infinite solutions.
This approach not only broadens my point of view, but it also opens the door to new possibilities waiting to be explored and experimented with.
The more I delve into the art of questioning, the more I realise that there isn't ONE 'right' answer but AN ARRAY of 'right for me in this moment' solutions.
The beauty of this approach is that it doesn't confine me to a single path. It liberates my mind, empowering me to adapt and evolve as I discover new dimensions of my challenges.
It encourages curiosity, creativity, and innovation by considering various angles and ideas.
The real magic lies in the questions themselves because they hold the key to a world of infinite solutions, tailored to my uniqueness.
Embrace the power of questions, and you'll find that the journey of exploration and discovery is just as valuable as the destination itself.
I have set aside a special place on my website below to pay homage to the profound impact of high-quality questions.
I trust that upon reflection, they will provide you with remarkable clarity and insights.
High-Quality Questions
A year from now, what decision will I be glad I made today?
Which of my strengths will help me reach this goal?
What will happen if I stay exactly where I am?
What's the worst thing that can happen if I choose X option?
If I weren't worried about this, what would I think about instead?
Am I in my head right now, or my heart?
When I picture my future self, what kinds of things does she/he believe about her/himself?
What have I been looking for outside myself that's actually within me?
What must I believe, in order for this problem to exist?
How has this fear/habit/belief served me so far?
If I woke up tomorrow and this problem were gone, what would be my first clue?
If this changed overnight, how would I be able to tell tomorrow?
Whose beliefs and worldview have I unintentionally adopted for myself?
Which of my expectations around this has been unrealistic?
Which of my accomplishments am I not owning right now?
What do I think I'm being called to learn through this situation?
What do I think I'll need to eventually let go of, to reach this goal?
What signs of progress am I already seeing?
If I had 20% more faith in myself, what would I do next?
Where did that belief come from?
What would be a belief that would serve me better?
The Past
What are your top 3 business or career successes—that you are most proud of? (The impact you’ve had, the difference you’ve made, the income you’ve created, the acknowledgements you’ve received. You’d be surprised how hard it is for people to share what they are proud of).
What are your top 3 personal or life successes—that you are most proud of? (Family, relationships, growth, health, contribution).
What are you known for? What can people count on you for?
What is the hardest thing in business/life that you have overcome? What did you learn from the experience?
What has your revenue been, each year, for the past 3 years? Why wasn’t it higher? Why wasn’t it lower?
What has your profit been, each year, for the past 3 years? Why wasn’t it higher? Why wasn’t it lower?
How much time off have you taken, each year, for the past 3 years? Why wasn’t it higher? Why wasn’t it lower?
The Present
Make a list of all the goals you have, right now. Which ONE, if you focused on it—to the exclusion of every other goal—would be most likely that you’d achieve over all the others, anyway?
What will you do to ensure you make this happen—no matter what?
What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve your goals? What are you not willing to sacrifice?
What are the three biggest reasons your life, business or impact isn’t yet where you want it to be?
What’s missing from your life and/or business? And how do you keep it out?
What do most people do in business that you do differently? Does that help you thrive—or struggle?
What is the problem you really solve for your clients?
What is the single most important result your clients get?
The Future
What would you like to accomplish—that may look impossible, right now—but if it were achieved would change everything?
If you were to look back 3 years from now, and say, They have been the best 3 years of my life—what has to have happened, for you to feel thrilled with your progress?
What were the 3 tiniest shifts that made the biggest difference in those 3 years?
If you were to look back 3 years from now, and say they have been the worst 3 years of my life, why will that be? eg. unhealthy relationships, poor habits, limiting beliefs, fear of success.
What habits held you back the most in those 3 years?
How will you NOT achieve what you want, in the next 3 years? (We always know, in advance, how we tend to fail at things. Let’s identify that now, so we can handle it).
What’s one truth – that you’ve held back – that you know the world needs to hear?
No Regrets
Bronnie Ware worked in palliative care for many years and she wrote a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. The following questions are designed to help you live a regret-free life:
How are you living a life that others expect of you, rather than a life true to yourself?
What (secret) dreams do you have that are still unfulfilled?
What (secret) choices are you making – or not making – that is having these dreams remain unfulfilled.
What (secret) choices are you making – or not making – that negatively impact your health in the present? Or more importantly, in the future?
Why are you working so hard to spend so much of your life on the treadmill of work? What are you sacrificing to do so? Is it worth it? Will it be worth it in ten years?
Where do you not have the courage to express your feelings? What’s that costing you? What would it be worth to you to change that?
Reflect on a moment when you wanted to speak truth to power – or express yourself – and you did not. Why didn’t you? And what was the result of that?
Reflect on a moment when you did speak truth to power – or express yourself. What was the result of that? (Inside you and out in the world).
Which friends have you lost touch with? Which friends do you miss? What tiny action could you take to reconnect with an old friend?
Where are you stuck in old patterns and habits that don’t let you be happier?
If you could laugh properly and have silliness in your life again, what would you do?
What’s your greatest regret so far?
What will you set out to achieve or change before you die?