The Power of Asking Questions - Amity Institute Of Training & Development

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“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

Ask questions to enable greater understanding and help us in continuous learning and growth.
It’s okay to ask questions. Practising, such as the fear of asking questions; taking on mentorship and practising asking questions to build confidence.
Questions show genuine interest in others, in turn building empathy and making stronger professional relationships.
Good leaders use questioning to empower teams, create trust, cultivate ownership, and drive innovation.
Use frameworks, such as Warren Berger’s, to solve problems and make informed decisions.

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 a world of here and now, tolerating questions itself is rare; forget about encouraging them.

We often hear:

“Don’t come to me with questions—come to me with answers.” Who has the time? I am superior—I know it all.

Why disrupt? And the list is endless….

Even in social scenarios, such as when someone says, ‘Thank you for asking me out,’ it demonstrates the importance of valuing curiosity and genuine interest.

Suggested Read: How to Overcome the Fear of Asking Questions

(Source: LinkedIn)

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.

(Source: Acs)

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.

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

Warren Berger calls it The Why, What If, and How of Innovative Questioning.

Why: Asking “Why” helps us understand the core problem or challenge—why it exists, why it hasn’t been solved already, and why it might be worth tackling.
What If: “What if” questions are used to explore new ideas for improvements or solutions to the problem from a hypothetical standpoint.
How: When it’s time to act on those ideas, the most effective questions are practical and action-orientated—how to give form to ideas, how to test and refine them, and how to transform possibility into reality.

This cycle of inquiry can be seen in many stories of recent innovations by companies such as Netflix, Pandora, Square, Nest, and Airbnb. Or, for a more timeless example, consider the invention of the Polaroid instant camera.

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.”

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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.

AITD’s Core Strengths

Encouraging Inquiry-Led Learning: We help professionals see the value of questioning. It’s key for solving problems, innovating, and always getting better.
Enhancing Leadership Communication: Our focused modules improve how people talk to each other and their teams. This leads to better work together across different areas.
Driving Organisational Innovation: Our programmes spark creativity and flexibility. These are crucial for handling fast-changing business worlds.
Strengthening Collaborative Decision-Making: We teach teams to work together better. They learn to share responsibility and goals.

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?

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