Key Messages
Rediscover Your Childhood Passion for Asking Questions and Unlock the Power of the “Beautiful Question”
We all had an innate ability to ask beautiful questions when we were children.
We asked the world why, how, and what if – things that gave us a better understanding of the world around us.
But as adults, our childhood enthusiasm and curiosity often gets lost in the shuffle of life – memorizing facts and figures so we can pass tests.
But there is power behind “beautiful questions” – they open up opportunities in life and in business.
With A More Beautiful Question, you’ll learn how to ask questions that get at the heart of things, revealing new possibilities that we never even knew existed!
We’ll discover why question-storming is superior to brainstorming; what the Right Question Institute does; and just how many questions a four-year-old child asks on average each day.
If we proactively ask more of these beautiful questions, it can truly transform our lives for the better!
The Power of Asking Questions: How Curiosity Has Played a Vital Role in Human Advancement
Questions drive creativity and stimulate new ideas; they also tell us what we don’t know.
Ask a question and you’ll automatically highlight the things that you don’t know.
It’s this process of discovery that has pushed humankind to greatness over the years, bringing about some of our greatest innovations.
Take the Polaroid Instant Camera as one example – it all started with a young girl asking her photographer father why she had to wait to see pictures he had just taken of her.
Her curiosity sparked an idea in him which he then followed through for years until his invention was complete!
In our ever-changing digital world, facts are readily available at our fingertips – but without questions to guide us, the information is useless.
It’s only when we ask questions that those facts come alive and become meaningful.
Questions therefore have immense power when it comes to learning and progress; no answer can exist without first asking a question!
Rediscovering the Power of Questions: Rekindling Our Innate Inquisitiveness to Make a Difference
Schools tend to emphasize rote learning that discourages a natural, innate desire to ask questions as children explore their world and learn about it.
Harvard University psychologist Paul Harris’ research shows that children aged between two and five ask a staggering 40,000 questions or more.
University of Michigan researcher Brandy Frazier also discovered that preschoolers actually care about the answers they receive – which goes to show how much value and importance we all place in inquiry when we are younger.
But sadly, this inquisitiveness begins to fade away once we enter elementary school.
The Right Question Institute revealed research findings showing an unmistakable decline in the number of questions asked once kids hit primary school level.
This can be attributed to America’s educational system that puts too much emphasis on discipline and memorization rather than allowing children the freedom to let their curiosity run wild by asking questions.
Grades are more often linked with being able to give the right answers on exams than come up with good questions – leaving little room for spirited inquiry.
Appreciating the Power of “Why” and “Why Not” Questions to Stimulate Creativity and Innovation
While “why?” questions are great for analyzing complex matters and gaining insight into why something has occurred, sometimes the answers don’t provide the solutions you need.
That’s where “why not?” questions come in.
Asking “why not?” challenges our basic assumptions about how things are or should be done, thus giving us a chance to think outside of the box and come up with innovative new solutions.
A great example of this was when Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky asked themselves, why do people have to stay in expensive hotels when visiting conferences? Why couldn’t they offer affordable accommodation with their own place instead? This “why not?” question sparked the idea for AirBnB!
Ultimately, if you’re looking for creative solutions to problems, especially complex ones, then it helps to ask both “why?”, followed by “why not?”.
Though seemingly simple and childlike, these two questions can be incredibly powerful if used correctly.
Unlocking Problem-Solving Potential With the Power of “What If?”, “Why?”, and “How?”
Asking the essential questions such as “why” and “why not” can uncover problems, but it is asking “what if?” that helps to spark inspirations.
This type of inquiry encourages us to think outside of our preset paradigms and come up with solutions that we may have never considered before.
It is this connection of ideas – old or new – that can provide opportunities for innovative solutions.
Take the example of Netflix: a mix between video-rental services and monthly membership clubs created an entirely novel approach to movie rentals.
However, having good ideas are simply not enough; answering “how?” puts them into action
How Beautiful Questions Can Help Businesses Thrive Through Innovation
Asking the right questions is essential for businesses striving to stay ahead of their competition in a quickly changing market.
This is where asking beautiful questions can help, and this theory is demonstrated by the Nike+ example.
The company observed that runners needed multiple pieces of equipment while running, and asked itself “What if we created a tool that combined all these devices but was also connected to a Nike running shoe?” This question led to the development of Nike+, an incredibly successful product due to its innovative concept.
Beautiful questions are not limited to reacting to changes in the market.
Businesses should actively be questioning what they can do better, rather than waiting for problems to arise before they take action.
Question storming sessions are more effective than traditional brainstorming sessions when it comes to innovation, as employees generate questions instead of solutions, eliminating fear or pressure associated with coming up with “good” answers.
For instance, executives at a competing soap company stumbled upon an idea for a bestselling seaside-themed bar soap called Coast after generating questions instead of trying permutations such as green stripes.
Thus, understanding the power of beautiful questions and utilizing them through question storming session helps companies not only react effectively but also anticipates upcoming trends and innovate accordingly, ensuring best long-term success!
The Power of Beautiful Questions: Unlocking Happiness and Success Through Self-Reflection
Asking beautiful questions can be an important part of leading a fulfilling and purposeful life.
When we think about our career, for instance, it’s easy to forget why we even started in the first place!
Asking yourself “Why am I climbing this mountain?” and answering it honestly can give you purpose and meaning.
Finding an answer that is authentically yours will stop you from just following someone else without knowing if it’s the right path for you.
Furthermore, asking thoughtful questions can make you happier too.
Harvard happiness researcher Tal Ben-Shahar says the trick to increasing joy is to ask yourself: “What do I have that I’m grateful for?” It turns out that those who appreciate the basics in life – such as friends and family, or simple activities like hobbies or doing things with their community – are usually happier than those who are more financially well off.
That’s because they get into the habit of counting their blessings instead of constantly striving for more material things.
So by asking beautiful questions, we can become more aware of ourselves and our surroundings; discover our purpose; identify what matters most to us; and practice gratitude – thus leading a more meaningful life.
Wrap Up
The final message of A More Beautiful Question is simple but profound – ask beautiful questions.
In this book, Warren Berger outlines the power of asking questions to help us solve problems and make progress.
He provides a step-by-step guide on how to do this – from understanding why a question is important, figuring out what the right question might be, and finally, coming up with great ideas in response to that question.
Ultimately, Berger believes that if you ask great questions and find creative answers, it can change your life for the better – whether it’s to tackle global issues or personal struggles.
So get ready for some great insights into harnessing the power of questions!
