Listen "070 - The Art of Asking Questions with Elke Wiss"
Episode Synopsis
Questions are the lifeblood of communication. Without questions, we only have statements – cold, certain, absolute. If there is no room for curiosity, there is no room for growth or change.But not all questions are created equal and, sometimes, a question can do more harm than good.This week, Elke Wiss – trainer, speaker, facilitator, author of Socrates in Sneakers, and self-styled ‘Thinking Doctor’– joins me on workshops work to explore how we can ask better questions. We cover so much, from Socratic Philosophy and psychological safety to lattes vs. cappuccinos.Join us in this episode and find out:What separates good and bad questionsWhy “why” questions can be simultaneously revelatory and destructiveWhether we can train our curiosity to be childlike againHow to create spaces in which you can ask questions that might usually feel unsafeHow we can all start asking better questionsDon’t miss the next show: Subscribe to the show with your favourite podcast player.A huge thank you must go to SessionLab, the sponsor of Workshops Work. Claim your free two months of SessionLab Pro now – this deal is exclusive to Workshops Work listeners!Questions and Answers[01:25] Do you call yourself a facilitator?[02:03] Where did your fascination with questions come from?[06:46] Do you have a set of questions to inspire your creative process?[11:30] What makes a good question?[13:00] Can one learn to be curious?[17:00] What is it about “why” questions that makes them feel so sharp?[20:25] How do you create a space that feels safe for asking questions?[25:48] What makes us shift away from the curiosity of childhood?[30:56] What makes a workshop fail?[32:02] How can we invite groups to ask questions?[33:27] What is your favourite question?[34:48] What would be your hashtag?[37:19] How can we end the process of questioning?[38:48] Is it more dangerous to ask the wrong question, or to take the first answer you receive?[40:58] What makes a bad question?[46:57] Is there anything else you wanted to highlight?LinksBrené Brown’s TED talkElke's Book - Socrates in Sneakers (with an English preview of the book to download!)Connect to ElkeElke's LinkedInThe Think ForgeElke's personal websiteShare your thoughts about our conversation!Support the show✨✨✨Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a free 1-page summary of each upcoming episode directly to your inbox, or explore our eBooks featuring 50-episode compilations for even more facilitation insights. Find out more:https://workshops.work/podcast✨✨✨Did you know? You can search all episodes by keyword to find exactly what you need via our Buzzsprout page!
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