great questions get great answers maybe it's asking important questions during
times of uncertainty maybe you need to interview someone or maybe you're just
looking to build deeper connections with the people around you in this video you
will learn the five keys to asking great questions for proven tips and techniques
on how you can make every conversation count and build human connection
subscribe to this channel and hit the bell so you get notified every Tuesday
when a new video is released I'm Riaz Meghji, founder of the every
conversation counts platform and seventeen-year broadcast host and after
years of interviewing experts in interviewing leaders when it comes to
asking great questions it really comes down to context we know the basics you
got to be brief we've got to ask open-ended questions and above all make
it about the other person but if you really want the subject in front of you
to open up it's important to understand the three key questions we all ask
ourselves the first time we meet someone do you care about me can you help me and
can I trust you and how do you answer these questions well a lot of it is
covered in the previous video have better conversations right here on this
channel but it really comes down to going first with something real raw and
vulnerable to invite the other person to do the exact same in this space and if
you do that following these five keys will help your questions create
breakthrough moments to start asking powerful questions start here simplify
your ask be concise be direct and above all get to the point as quickly as
possible now how do we do this one sentence
questions think about it when you meet somebody one of the questions I would
always ask guests in the greenroom what's on your mind this was a great
intro question so I could understand the priorities occupying their space when it
comes down to tricky situations instead of focusing on the problem focus on the
solution with your question what is your ideal scenario look like here I think
one of the common traps we can sometimes fall into with our questions or
drawn-out intros or complicated setups consisting of multiple questions where
the subject is really overwhelmed with what exactly you're asking so if you
want to get a great start simplify your ask with one sentence questions so you
can set yourself up for success to take the conversation deeper the first answer
you get is almost always the appetizer for the main course to truly connect
with others with your questions it's important to have an insatiable appetite
for digging deep with your follow-up questions and this isn't necessarily
something you can prepare for ahead of time this involves giving the person in
front of you your undivided attention and then picking up on the cues they're
giving you I mean some useful examples of follow ups really start with could
you elaborate on that could you tell me more about that stance you're taking
maybe even recapping their point of view to avoid any misinterpretation so is
what you're saying and then fill in the blank or you could go back to basics and
just ask why five times to dig deeper above all forget about your next plan
question and have the courage to step into uncertainty with that person now by
doing that you'll show that you listened that you care and that you want to learn
more and that person in front of you will feel heard and respected and this
will help you start to build some important bonds when you're considering
the type of questions to ask somebody consider this ask for stories not just
answers why it all comes down to emotion because emotion is what connects us
emotion is what polarizes us but above all emotion is what motivates us to act
and the best way to connect with emotion you guessed it is to tell someone a
story because our brains are absorbing stories as if we are experiencing them
ourselves and if you're wondering well what type of story should I ask about
consider these three themes trials transitions triumphs trials when is the
last time you did something for the first time think about the emotion
somebody could share behind those stories transitions think about the
uncertainty you could be living in it at any given
point in time digging into that transition how did you adapt how did you
change how did you face that point of adversity and what did that feel like
and then triumph that's the moment for someone to shine and share their moment
of glory what was the blueprint what was the strategy for you to achieve that
degree of success this next tip is all about attacking leading questions don't
assume the answer how many of us have been in the position where we're
expressing our point of view without explicitly stating it well let's think
about the time of uncertainty we're all living in right now many of us could be
asking well should we close the business now or should we continue on with
possible layoffs so that we can survive this tough stretch instead why not just
ask well what do you think we should do here context is crucial if we can
suspend our judgment and our advice and just keep things open we're inviting the
person in front of us to think creatively and above all just think for
themselves hopefully you've been enjoying these tips if you have some
great questions that have led to breakthrough moments for you let us know
about them in the comment section below final tip for you silence can be your
secret weapon feel that right there it's a little awkward in that gap yeah well
this initial period of awkwardness could be a really positive sign if you've
thrown out a great question because this could indicate the person in front of
you is really considering what you just asked and one of our habits could be
that we could fill and curb this silence with filler words or questions and
really miss out on a profound response that could throw our way so think about
it throw out the question stay quiet give
them your attention and let silence speak wonders and watch what happens
hopefully you found this video helpful for more ideas on building human
connection be sure to check out the guide the five secrets to making every
conversation count you can get it at the link in the description below thanks for
watching for more videos on how you can have better conversations and stay
connected during isolation check out these Ling
if you liked this video hit the like button feel free to share it and be sure
to subscribe to this channel we'll see you in the next video