What Asking Questions Brings to Your Life

I was speaking with a friend on the subject of asking questions. He shared how at times in his life he refrained from asking questions for fear of appearing ignorant. I wonder how many of you have had this challenge?

I then thought about how many of my clients have stopped themselves from moving forward because they refrain from asking questions.

I began to wonder how I could contribute. That is how this newsletter started. I asked myself what has been one of my challenges in my professional life; and it is asking questions.

In my life I have made ‘Big’ mistakes because of not asking questions. I have let my imagination guess the answers. I was getting comfortable with my own internal answer and assuming it as truth, which is very different from reality.

What about the occasions that I did not ask questions for fear of offending the other person? Perhaps I thought a question would be disrespectful. Or perhaps I didn’t ask questions because I imagined “I know the answer, I do not have to ask.”

How and when can you identify with this challenge?

What do we get when we ask questions? We:

• Clarify ideas & situations
• Keep relationships
• Get information
• Solve Problems and make decisions
• Think clearly and create strategies
• Negotiate and resolve conflicts
• Stimulate our mind
• Learn
• Teach
• Reflect

Clear communication is all about asking questions. One technique that I teach couples immediately is to stop “mind-reading.” Mind-reading is thinking you know what your partner is going to say or do so you do not ask. This is just another example of how not asking questions can create stress in your life.

Asking questions is one of the prerequisites to enjoying your life and achieving your goals!

Any questions?