I start this article with a quote by Albert Einstein, who said, “It is not the answers that move the world, it is the questions”. Asking the right questions encourages reflection and finding the answers you need to go further in your career and personal life.
In this sense, maieutics, developed by Socrates in the 4th century BC, seeks the truth through a philosophical line within Man. His phrase “Know thyself” is famous, which begins the inner journey of humanity, in the search for the path that leads to the practice of moral virtues. Thus, through simple questions, inserted within a given context, Maieutics gives birth to ideas. From the perspective of maieutics, that is, of the “giving birth” of knowledge, it is understood that this is already within man.
Questions are the most powerful tools in the self-knowledge process. They are the key to the answers, more than that, they are often the truth of the question being sought. Its great purpose lies more in proposing them than in answering them. Questions should stimulate action, generate options, create commitment and provide a positive mindset shift in the pursuit of self-knowledge.
When we don't ask questions, we end up accommodating ourselves to circumstances, we become hostages to problems and worse, we don't have the initiative to solve them. Hearing the right questions from a mentor, coach, partner or yourself, works as an awakening to reality, it is equivalent to a call to act in favor of the changes we want to lead. Powerful questions express the transformative character that reflections triggered by well-posed questions can represent.
And to exemplify what these powerful questions are like, here is a total of 27 questions, designed by the author himself to help you on your journey of learning and self-development.
1) Questions for the process search: HOW?
How can you find your life's purpose?
2) Specific and direct questions: WHAT?
What paralyzes you?
3) Questions for identifying values
What are the values you don't give up in your life?
4) Questions for verification of accountability for the results
How much are you willing to take responsibility for the choices to achieve your result?
5) Questions to assess commitment
Upon reaching your goals, what state of happiness would you be in?
6) Questions like: WHICH?
What reasons do you have to stay focused on your goal?
7) Questions that specify the time and deadline: WHEN?
When will you take possession of your life?
8) Questions like: WHERE? (Place)
Where do you find faith?
9) Questions like: WHY?
Why do you value it so much?
10) Needs Survey Questions (Expected Results)
When do you believe your needs will be met?
11) Congruence Questions (Systemic issues that don't affect anyone around you)
Are you being true to your purpose?
12) Questions to generate accountability (it's up to you)
What habits are holding you back from moving towards your goal?
13) Questions to define the target segmentation
What is your immediate priority for achieving your goal?
14) Resource-raising questions (encourage yourself to travel in an empowering emotional state)
What are your gifts that can be applied toward your goal?
15) Questions for changing emotional state
Was there a moment when you felt totally deserving? What did you do to deserve this moment?
16) Questions to spur action (create numbers and deadlines)
What action can you take today to be happier?
17) Questions to generate clarification
Could it be more objective?
18) Questions to generate options (smarter options to get results)
Have you planned alternative paths to reach your goal?
19) Questions to challenge paradigms (challenge limiting beliefs and show how to act well when we are playing)
Do you think your “not” deserving belief is holding you back?
20) Questions to find limitations
What are today's needs that make you lose focus on the goal?
21) Questions to keep learning
How will you share these learnings with others to generate more experiences?
22) Questions to evaluate the process (realize how much you care about its development)
What positive evidence do you attribute that you achieved your results because of the self-knowledge process?
23) Questions to offer support (participating in the process by showing yourself as a friend and partner)
If you had superpowers, what would you do for someone else right now?
24) Thought-forming questions
What other points of view would there be for this situation?
25) Challenging Questions (Questions That Challenge You)
Do you see yourself living someone else's life?
26) Questions to define expected results
Are you aware of the choices you will have to make to achieve your goals?
27) Questions for defining evidence of achievement
What indicators could you define to follow your evolution until the final result?
I challenge you to ask all these questions of the most important person in your life, YOURSELF. The more we are aware of who we are, what our strengths and weaknesses are, gifts and talents, the more we will be able to use our potential to do great things, positively transforming our own lives and that of others.
Silvio Rocha is a Digital Transformation Leader, Innovation Architect, Design Thinking Specialist, Coach, Speaker, Teacher and columnist for Gente Mais Portal.