What's in a question?
and why…does it have such an impact?
like The sun’s reflection on water, captivating and energising, So is a question!
When someone replies ‘Good Question' - to something you asked - then you're on to something 🏆!
And here’s why it 👉signals👈 that your question has impact:
‘Good Question’ can be used to stall - to courteously create time to think before responding.
But what else can it tell us?
✅ We asked something relevant;
✅ We’re following their agenda or getting further into the topic; or
✅ We’ve asked something thought-provoking.
Some trains of thought suggest asking questions makes conversation uneasy, for example in danger of being impertinent, too quizzical, imposing or challenging.
But, according to science, the impacts are ...
1. Fresh focus: The brain can’t multitask. A question activates the mental ‘Instinctive elaboration’ reflex that focuses 🔎 only on answering the question.
2. Immediate attention 💣: We respond to the most recent stimulus (and may not answer someone’s question if we’re then soon asked another).
3. Extra potential to find answers and solutions: When reflecting and searching 🔦 for answers, Serotonin – the relaxing hormone and neurotransmitter - is released.
4. A gush of energy from the Serotonin, motivating us to be ready to act 🚀.
So, are questions energising?
YES!
AND, that's not it...
...not only is it often easier to find questions than answers.......we’re helping the other person in getting their brain 💭 to work better!
Plus, due to the stimulation….
…their experience of you will likely be that you are an interesting conversationalist even when saying very little 👌.
So, questioning saves energy too!!