The Power of Questions:
How We Connect and Discover
Questions are everywhere. We ask them at work, in classrooms, over dinner, or on long car rides. But when you stop and think about it—questions aren’t just tools for getting answers. They’re the key to connection, understanding, and discovery.
And here’s what’s wild: sometimes a tiny shift in phrasing can change everything.
Take these two:
- “What do you know about this?” → Straightforward. It’s asking for facts.
- “What do you know of this?” → Suddenly, there’s room for depth—insight, experience, maybe even a story.
That shift feels small, but it invites a different kind of answer. One that goes beyond the surface.
At Work: Better Questions, Better Conversations
Think about the last time you asked someone for a status update at work. Maybe you said, “Is the project on track?” It’s a reasonable question, but what kind of answer did you get? Probably something short, right?
Now imagine asking, “What’s standing in the way of progress?” That one question opens the door for so much more. You get context, challenges, and maybe even solutions.
It works for leadership, too. Instead of asking, “What did you accomplish?”, try, “What are you proud of this week?” It’s subtle, but it changes the focus. Suddenly, you’re not just checking off tasks—you’re encouraging reflection and celebrating wins.
Because here’s the thing: questions don’t just gather information. They build trust, spark ideas, and move things forward.
In Life: Questions That Uncover Stories
We do this in everyday conversations, too, often without realizing it.
Let’s say a friend tells you about their day. If you ask, “How was it?”, they’ll probably just say, “Fine.” But if you ask, “What was the best part of your day?”, something shifts. You’re not just getting an update—you’re getting a moment, a story.
Writers know this better than anyone. The best stories start with the right questions:
- “Why did they do that?”
- “What happens next?”
But storytelling doesn’t just happen in books. It’s everywhere—waiting in conversations, in the way we ask and listen.
In Learning: Questions That Dig Deeper
Teachers, researchers, even curious friends—they all know that asking the right question makes all the difference.
Think about it:
- “Do you understand?” → It’s easy to nod and move on.
- “What part of this feels unclear to you?” → Now there’s room to pause, explore, and grow.
That’s the thing about curiosity: it doesn’t settle for quick answers. It keeps digging until it finds something meaningful. Whether you’re learning, teaching, or just figuring something out for yourself, the questions you ask guide the journey.
In Relationships: Questions That Bring Us Closer
At the heart of it, though, questions are about connection.
Instead of asking, “How was your day?”, try asking, “What’s been on your mind today?” or “What’s something that made you smile?” Those small, thoughtful questions make space for real conversation—because they show we actually care.
The right question tells someone, “I’m listening. I want to know more.”
And when you’re the one being asked? It’s amazing what you’ll find yourself saying.
So, What’s Your Question?
Here’s what I keep coming back to: questions aren’t just about the answers. They’re about the relationships we build, the stories we uncover, and the things we learn along the way.
And sometimes, the best questions don’t just help us understand others. They help us understand ourselves, too.
So, I’ll ask you this:
What kinds of questions do you want to ask more often?
Ask with care. Ask with curiosity. And ask like you mean it—because the right question doesn’t just get an answer.
It changes the conversation.