Anyone who has worked with creativity and innovation knows that a lot is about being able to ask the right questions. Many may think that creativity is about finding answers, but those experienced in the field know that it is the questions that drive the ideas.
Correctly asked questions not only create opportunities for new solutions, but contribute to deeper thinking and a broader perspective. By formulating questions in a well-thought-out way, we can open up completely new paths and reach the best solutions – something that is becoming increasingly important in today’s complex society.
Small changes, big effects
A simple change in how we phrase a question can lead to radically different answers. For example, if we ask “How can we increase sales?” it probably leads to suggestions for marketing or new sales strategies. But if we instead ask “What would make our product indispensable for customers?” we open up for a creative of product development and customer value. The question thus not only controls the focus, but can also control which areas and perspectives enter the process.
see also how to formulate a challenge
System innovation and the power of the question
Within a system innovation, it becomes even clearer how important the issues are. By changing the way a question is asked, we can illuminate different aspects of a problem, such as the effect of a problem, the underlying structure of the problem, cause, or the behavior that creates or can change the problem.
A concrete example could be the question “Why did our project fail?” (effect) which easily leads to looking for specific errors or mistakes. If we instead ask “What can we learn from this project?” (structure) we turn our focus towards building long-term knowledge and understanding. In this way, different questions can lead to completely different results, depending on what you are trying to influence within the system.
Different perspectives give different answers
Another important factor is that different people often give different answers to the same question, depending on their perspective. A question like “What is most important for the success of the project?” for example, may give different answers if asked to a project manager, a developer or a customer. The project manager may emphasize time management, the developer may focus on technical resources and the customer on ease of use. This highlights the importance of asking the right questions to the right people to get a multifaceted view of a challenge.
The Story of the Wise Man: Questions Without Definitive Answers
There is an old story about a wise man who was asked to decide who was right in a dispute. After hearing the first person he said “you are right”. After hearing the other person, he said “you are right”. When a third person stated “but now you’ve said that both people are right?” replied the sage “you are right”.
The story shows how the right question can open up many possible truths and solutions, instead of locking us into a single truth. Understanding that different perspectives can be valid at the same time and that there are many solution sets can be critical to finding solutions to complex problems.
Formulating the question is part of the creative process
Many underestimate how important it is to spend time on the actual formulation of the question. Sometimes it can take as much time as the idea generation itself. This may seem unfamiliar, but seeing the question formulation as part of the creative process is critical to finding solutions that are actually relevant. A good question can be the gateway to thinking in a way that has not been possible before.
see method why-how-elevator
Building questions: Generate many questions for best results
One of the best ways to find the right question is to start by generating a lot of questions, maybe 20-30, at different levels. By trying different formulations and angles – a method sometimes called “question building” – we get a feel for what is really at the heart of the problem.
In practice, this may mean that an initial, simple question may develop into a series of more precise and specific questions. For example, a broad question such as “How can we improve the working environment?” develop into more focused questions such as “How can we create a better balance between work and leisure time?” or “What does the team need to feel more engaged?”
Mastering difficult issues in a complex world
As the world becomes more complex and we face major challenges, so-called “wicked problems“, the importance of asking the right questions becomes even clearer. These types of problems often have no simple answers, but by asking well-articulated questions we can better navigate that complexity and find innovative ways to tackle challenges such as climate change, social justice and sustainable development. Here, the questions become not only a path to answers but a path to better understanding and action.
Asking the right questions is thus an art and a skill that everyone who works with innovation and problem solving needs to develop. By devoting time to formulate our questions correctly, and by building a wide range of questions, we can find the most creative and relevant solutions to the challenges we face.
