Asking Questions….
Into the third week of our various venture building projects, a common theme that has popped up would be the looming doubt, as we face roadblocks that forces us to constantly ask questions and further add clarity to the direction of our projects.
“Do we have a map or even know where we are going? It also appears that we are currently trying to forge ahead without patching up the holes that are leaking water into our vessel. This feels like a major predicament that needs to be rectified promptly.” — Gabriel
We need to accept the fact that it is indeed normal to have doubts about the direction of the project but always remember that we are not alone in this journey as long as we are not afraid to constantly seek guidance from those around us.
“….I believe, entrepreneurs also face moments of self-doubt and being lost. It is paramount that a helping hand or listening ear is there to support along the way. And this is what differentiates NTUitive’s venture builder programme from others.” — Dawn
We should be aware of the quality of the questions we ask, as the answers that we unearth would then allow us to have a direction to head towards.
“I think it is the responsibility of both the encoder and decoder to facilitate an effective communication. While it is the responsibility of the decoder to apply active listening, it is also the responsibility of the encoder to apply empathy to understand where are the gaps the decoder have in understanding what himself/herself is trying to say and attempt to fill those gaps.” — Dickson
Asking Effective Questions is imperative as it leads us to the general direction that gives us a push/impetus/reason/purpose to plan for our next step more meaningfully.
As shared by Peter, according to “The Innovator’s DNA” by Jeffrey H. Dyer, Hal Gregersen and Clayton M. Christensen, the authors have identified five skills of disruptive innovators: associating, questioning, observing, experimenting, and networking.
“Questioning causes the answerers to scramble while the questioner sits so sly. That’s because the power’s in asking the right questions, not in finding the right answers. The right questions arise when we: a) challenge assumptions; b) embrace constraints; and c) play devil’s advocate. The tension faced when we remove a key plank from our hypothesis, or propel our plan through the wind tunnel of an alternative scenario, often synthesizes a superior outcome that doesn’t settle for either opposing extreme.” — Peter
It is great that we are all asking questions. However, we should not let the fear of the unknown debilitate us.
“Question everything” Albert Einstein famously said. Personal creativity and organizational innovation rely on a willingness to seek out novel information. Questions and thoughtful answers foster smoother and more-effective interactions, they strengthen rapport and trust, and lead groups toward discovery. — The Surprising power of Questions.
