The Art of Asking Great Questions by Tijs Besieux

Summary. While listening is an important skill, the art of asking questions is equally, if not more, important when it comes to learning more about your work tasks, unlocking hidden opportunities, delivering better results, and mitigating unforeseen risks. Great ... more

I've worked as a consultant for a decade now, and it's been a

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Listening is a crucial skill in this respect, but asking great questions is equally, if not more, important. How else do you expect to unearth the information you need to craft solutions?

The art of asking great questions isn't just restricted to consulting. In any industry, people with this skill are seen as more empathetic. They also lower the threshold for others to speak up, increase the quality of decisions, and foster collective intelligence. Whether you're a marketing associate, a project manager, a freelance illustrator, or something else - a great question can help you learn more about your task, unlock hidden opportunities, deliver better results, and mitigate unforeseen risks.

To figure out what it takes to successfully hone this skill, I interviewed twelve fellow consultants who hold senior positions at prestigious firms including McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, and Deloitte.

"In your view, what's a great question?" I asked.

Among all their answers, three consistent characteristics emerged.

One) A great question should demonstrate that you're thoroughly prepared for the conversation.

Instead of: "How's business doing?"