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The Power of Asking Questions
“Thank you for your insightful questions!” said the host at the end of the event. That was a rarity to hear in my growing-up years. So, despite being excited about being a part of the audience in a coveted event in my firm, when the mic was being passed around to the audience, I let it pass. That was not a first but one of many times.
Thank you for asking questions. is a phrase we often hear, but how often do we use it to connect with others?
Key Learnings
Questioning promotes the acquisition of deeper insight and encourages continual learning and development.
It is perfectly okay to ask questions. Overcoming questioning takes mentorship, encouragement, and confidence.
Questions show a genuine interest, create empathy, and foster stronger professional relationships.
Top executives use questioning to empower their teams, build trust, create ownership, and innovate.
Frameworks, like Warren Berger’s, work to solve problems and are utilised for better decision-making.
Barriers to Asking Questions
Perhaps mental conditioning, fear of sounding stupid or ignorant, or just an inability to frame my thoughts into a question were my blockers then. But I knew I was missing an opportunity to learn, even if I would have said, ‘Thank you for asking,’ and left the mic behind. Answers are rewarded… questions are… well, questionable.
In many environments, asking questions is discouraged—if not explicitly, then through social cues:
We often hear:
“Don’t come to me with questions—come with answers.”
“Why disrupt the process?”
“I am superior; I know it all.”
In many environments, asking questions is discouraged—if not explicitly, then through social cues:
Suggested Read: How to Overcome the Fear of Asking Questions
Did You Know?
Children ask around 300 questions a day. This shows how important curiosity is for learning.
The Journey to Embracing Questions
It took quite a few years and mentoring from some of my mentors for me to ditch that hitch and embrace asking questions and to encourage them too. The motto was: “It’s better to ask and risk sounding foolish than to remain silent and make a costly mistake.”
But no one should actually need help in asking questions… right? I mean, is it not like an elementary aspect we are born with! That’s what most people may think.
Asking questions is a skill we need to develop, which requires skill to learn and exchange information; it indeed is a skill that needs to be grown, encouraged, and honed.
Did You Know?
The Polaroid instant camera was invented after Edwin Land’s daughter asked why she couldn’t see the photo right away. One simple question led to a photography revolution.
The Role of Questions in Human Connection
Among the myriad doctrines of questioning, the fundamental one is human connection. Whether it is with a child or an elder, or in general with other humans in personal and professional worlds, asking questions displays a genuine desire to know about others or learn from others, which builds empathy.
Asking a friend about how they are or what happened helps deepen the bond.
In a group with strangers, questioning can build rapport and relationships. In learning setups, questioning assists learning, knowledge gain, and sharing perspectives.
In workspaces as well, it is the central nervous system in many ways. A common question people ask is, ‘How do you say thank you for asking?’ Acknowledging a thoughtful question not only encourages deeper engagement but also builds stronger human connections.
Our work depends on answers to questions all the time. “What do you think about this?” is such a question—when my senior asked me this, it defined ownership, building competence, confidence, empowerment, and so much more for me.
When leaders ask the team for ideas or opinions, this simple question makes me feel valued, responsible, empowered, and confident. It opened up a space for real dialogue and trust.
The Scientific Basis for Asking Questions
The scientific premise behind asking questions is simple: curiosity about how things or the world works and what happens if things are done differently—this can be termed as gaining or deepening knowledge. Better ways to do things, new ways of solving problems, and creativity all erupt from the volcano of questions if it’s allowed to open.
Of course, asking questions the wrong way can harm conversations or trust. It’s not just about asking, but asking well.
The Art and Science of Questioning
There is a whole lot of research and science behind the art of asking questions or asking the right questions. It is not one particular theory or one way to do it. It is learnt by first opening up and accepting the idea and then observing and practising. If one is a shy person by nature, even answering questions is not easy, so asking questions is a far cry.
But, like any skill, it can be learnt, practised, and improved. Knowing the right questions and when to ask them is crucial.
An effective way is to use Warren Berger’s three-part system to ask a question. Simple statements like ‘Thank you for asking me out’ can express most strongly how a question can affect all our social interactions. Beyond politeness, the meaning encompasses appreciation for curiosity or interest from someone’s side.
Suggested Read: What Is the Art of Asking Questions and Why It Matters
Did You Know?
Regular questioning helps to develop cognitive flexibility, which is critical for problem-solving and leadership.
Warren Berger’s Three-Part System of Inquiry
Author Warren Berger proposed the powerful questioning framework to be used for innovation:
Why: Uncovers the core issue. Why does this problem exist? Why has it not been solved yet?
What if: Encourages creative thinking. What if we do things differently?
How: Deals with the actual implementation. How are we going to test, improve, and implement it?
Enterprises like Airbnb, Netflix, and Square have all been fully innovated within the framework of this format.
Conclusion: The Value of Continuous Inquiry
In summary
‘Why’ can be the game changer.
‘What if’ possibilities are the seeds of innovation.
‘How’ is the action stage of inquiry.
But this isn’t a master key—there should not be one. The idea is to first be open to asking and encouraging others to ask and using inquiry to progress.
As Albert Einstein said,
“The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
So, go ahead—ask. And when someone asks you, say it with meaning: “Thank you for asking.”
Is your sales team trained to ask value-driven questions that close deals?
How AITD Can Help Your Organisation?
At Amity Institute of Training and Development (AITD), we aim to create future-ready leaders and high-performing teams. With over two decades of corporate training, AITD promotes a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
Suggested Read: The Importance of Asking Questions for Organisational Growth
AITD’s Core Strengths
Encouraging Inquiry-Led Learning: We equip professionals to recognise the necessity of asking the relevant questions to solve problems and innovate.
Enhancing Leadership Communication: The training provided by us strengthens communication up and down the leadership processes for better partnership and an agreed objective.
Driving Organisational Innovation: AITD programs foster creativity and flexibility in companies operating in the dynamic world.
Strengthening Collaborative Decision-Making: We support teams in taking responsibility for the outcomes together and in making better and faster decisions.
In today’s dynamic world, organisations need to foster curiosity, resilience, and flexibility. Let AITD be your partner in building a team that asks the right questions and leads to real change.
Is your organisation fostering a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement?
RK Sharma
"Awarded Yudh Seva Medal by the President of India in 2004 for leadership in battle on the Line of Control in Kashmir, Brig Rajesh Sharma brings his vast
operational experience to corporate training. During the last 12 years he has
designed and delivered training programs for more than 40 multinational
corporations, Indian public and private sector enterprises. He is an expert in
leadership, change management and decision making in complex situations.
He holds an M. Sc (Defence & Strategic Studies) from Madras University and
PGDHRM from IGNOU, Delhi."
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to commonly asked questions about Amity.
Why are professionals afraid to ask questions in the workplace?
Some fear that asking a question would show unpreparedness or lack of knowledge. Social anxiety, the baggage of unpleasant experiences, and strict workplace hierarchies all contribute to this hesitation.
How does asking questions improve corporate communication?
Asking good questions clarifies matters, reduces errors, promotes collaborative discussion, and thus leads to greater and better communication.
Can organisations train employees to overcome the fear of asking questions?
Yes, corporate training programs such as AITD’s The Art of Asking Questions build these inquiry skills among teams and foster confidence.
What is the ROI of building a culture that encourages questions?
Increasing engagement, fuelling rapid innovation, and better decision-making are all short-term productivity gains from inquiry-friendly company environments.
How can AITD help overcome question anxiety in teams?
AITD has expert-led training in communication, social confidence, and curiosity-building for corporate environments.
Still Have Questions?
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