I read this great article in the The Wall Street Journal by Hal Gregersen (Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center) titled, To Be a Better Leader, Ask Better Questions. It struck me that yes his article was geared towards business but really the power of asking the right questions at the right time is a game changer for all of us. For teachers having the ability to draw out ways to spark their students’ thinking, is simply teaching at its best for every age group! And whether you are a boss or an educator no one has all the answers but to have the ability to pose the right question to strengthen understanding and creative thinking that is meaningful.
Below are a few highlights from Gregersen’s article with my thinking intertwined:
*Understand what kinds of questions spark creative thinking: There are lots of questions you can ask. But only the best really knock down barriers to creative thinking. A question that does has five trait:
- It reframes the problem.
- It intrigues the imagination.
- It invites others’ thinking.
- It opens up space for different answers.
- It’s nonaggressive – not posed to embarrass or humiliate.
*Create the habit of asking questions. It can build the habit of thinking in questions and it will exercise your questioning muscles. In the classroom it could be questions like…”Why do you say that?” or “How else?” and one of my favorites to ask students “What if?”
*Respond with the power of the pause. When someone comes to you with a problem, don’t immediately respond with an answer. Try to make it a habit to respond with a question. For example, you could ask,”What problem felt like this before?”
*Brainstorm for questions. Students love this exercise and it often is highly energizing for a group to take 4 to 5 minutes generating questions when faced with an academic problem or an opportunity. The questions will become stronger and/or generate possible exciting ideas.
*This is my favorite take-away from the article…Reward your questioners! Again whether you’re a boss, a teacher or parent, this question is a winner….”Wait, say more….”
I remember being in an administrative team meeting during the summer before school started and the Head of School asked us to come prepared with our “Wildest, hairiest ideas!” I was thrilled and so deeply energized for that meeting. And the brainstorming and questioning that developed from that particular team meeting – priceless!
Have a great week and ask some questions!
Laine