Asking questions is an underrated skill

There are no dumb questions. Well, actually, there are. Not dumb, but let's say, overly simplistic.

There are no dumb questions. Well, actually, there are. Not dumb, but let's say, overly simplistic.

Many writers and podcasters now have a business model of providing an AMA session. Ask Me Anything.

But there are three fundamental problems.

How to ask intelligent questions? So that you will get the most out of this one question?

How to assume your answer will be valuable? Receiving a general philosophy discussion is usually no good if you want an action plan. Sometimes the respondent will ignore or play dumb.

How to assume the answer will be trustworthy? More than often, I view that an answer is given. It even seems true - like the respondent not lying. But I do get questions about whether I got the full picture. Is the answer valid only in specific circumstances or all of them?

And then I decide that seeking answers this way is exhausting.

Why? Because when a millionaire is telling me his truth, he looks from his perspective. His answer will probably not be valuable to me unless I can ask a specific question that would already entail the answer?

I do consult on occasion. I get "dumb" questions. Irrelevant questions. But through the context, we sometimes get to the core problems the client did not see. I sometimes get "smart-ass questions," but we see that the fundamentals are wrong when I put them apart. The premise is faulty. The assumptions are all fucked up and false.

And then I have people who ask great (complex) questions.

How do you get good at questions? Practice, of course. And a lot of mimicking. Echo the response back? Mirror it. And pay attention. A lot of attention. You must focus on reading verbal and non-verbal cues if you ask a question. Extract information like a maniac. Like it is (and it might as well be), your only shot to get that golden nugget of information.