A Question of Question

The following is a variation on what a Sam Rainer (a consultant) wrote.
I ask many questions when I’m consulting and coaching. Over two decades, I’ve refined the types of questions I ask and the way I ask questions. Some questions don’t elicit much of a response. Other questions cause people to pause and think. Then, there are the questions that get people talking.
Some of the best learning experiences as a leader come when you ask a good question and listen. After twenty-five years of research, I’ve found one question more than any other seems to get people talking.
 “What gets you most excited about your passion?”
The question is not threatening because it gives people a chance to offer a positive answer. At the same time, the question narrows potential responses to the most exciting part. It forces an answer into one reply.
The answer reveals passion. The term exciting implies enthusiasm. When people reply about what excites them, you have an idea of what drives their passion. I’ve heard a wide range of answers. Rarely are people negative about their passions, so their answers reveal what they feel is most positive about their passion.
The answer reveals priority. What is exciting is often a priority. If you are passionate about something, you often elevate it above other things.
The answer reveals perspective. Is the excitement in the past? The present? Or the future? Excitement in the past usually points to a lack of excitement in the present. Excitement in the future could indicate that a person perceives their passion is moving in a positive direction or that they are hopeful things will change soon.
The answer reveals personality. Some organizations are more extroverted than others, and new people are seen as exciting. Some organizations are more thoughtful, and people get excited about caring for others. Some organizations are generous, and there is excitement around giving. The excitement of an organization is often an indicator of its personality.
One question will not uncover every critical part. But asking about what gets people excited reveals a lot of information in a non-threatening way. It’s one of the more common questions I ask in consultations. I enjoy hearing the different perspectives in what is almost always a pleasant and positive conversation.
So, ask some people, “What excites you most about your organization?” I’m sure you will learn something by listening to the answers.