Can you ask a more beautiful question?

Can you imagine being able to diffuse a conflict simply by asking a better question?

What if you could propel your organization out of a conundrum by asking teams and leaders really good questions?
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September 30th, I spoke at the Capital Coaches Conference in Bethesda, Maryland. We had 400 coaches -- from executive to organizational -- sharing their skills and getting their minds blown open, especially around the concept of questions. 

I presented "Narrative Approaches to Conflict Resolution" which taught folks how to identify a storyline that wreaking havoc on a family, individual or group. We talked about how to make a better formed story and how to anchor that new story in the organization. (I will post a video shortly)

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Asking Better Questions 

Luckily, my presentation fit in nicely with the keynote speech by former NY Times correspondent Warren Berger who wrote a book called A More Beautiful Question.  ​He also has found himself transfixed by how we come at our conflicts. We have a lot in common! While I'll post a video shortly on Narrative Practices, I wanted to share a few highlights from dear Warren's speech. 

He pushed back on the long-touted "brainstorming" as a way to think ourselves out of conflict. I love splattering up ideas on a wall. He said, however, that often this approach does not do much for people or organizations. Because after they walk away from the wall, they forget the ideas.

He now advocates for "Question storming." Spend time thinking about what questions we need to be answering. This works for two reasons. Firstly, we don't spend time solving the wrong problem and secondly, he says, the brain continues to chew on questions much longer. So, if you ask yourself - -for example --


"What would I do if I knew I could not fail?"  

Your brain will chew on the question for quite some time giving you all kinds of answers. It's a cool question. Try asking it when you're sitting at a red light.... Wait, on second thought..your answer might be "run the red light." Ok, try this question when you're not sure what to think about next. 
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Follow Einstein - Spend Time on Your Question 

• Berger offered Einstein to support his point.
  
  Einstein said, if he had one hour to solve a question to save his life, he would spend 55 minutes trying to find the right question! 
  
  ​Think of the implications!!
  
  Waking up and spending a few minutes thinking about today's question! 
  
  What question drives your day?  What might be a better question?
  
  

Can you feel the subtle difference between:  

• "What should I do next?" 
• "What do I want?" 

The first question may wrap you up in other's agendas or trying to look good. The second will keep you focused on what matters to you. 

The bigger and better the question, the bigger and better your life. 
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Are big questions too overwhelming?

If big questions are too overwhelming, at least turn your existing goals into questions.

Berger suggests, if you are trying to drink more water. Don't tell yourself, "Drink more water."
Instead, ask yourself, "How can I drink more water?" 

Your brain, like google search, will look for an answer...But unlike google, it will keep looking all day. 

You might get some creative answers.

​Why not give it a try?