Have you ever had one of those conversations where you have expressed interest in another person and asked them some good questions, but they have given monosyllabic replies and taken no interest in you?
Perhaps the person is merely having a bad day or maybe we have not been very imaginative with our questions. This book is an excellent resource for reflecting on how to improve the quality of the questions we ask. It does so in four parts.
- It addresses how underdeveloped our question-asking skills can be and why improving our ability to ask questions will benefit all our social interactions.
“Asking great questions has the power and potential to improve the quality of every single area of life – your relationships, your career, your faith, and your future. It can have a significant impact on your neighbourhoods, schools, churches, workplaces, and online. In fact, there’s not a single area where improving the quality of the questions you ask won’t improve the quality of your life and the lives of those around you” (J.R. Briggs). - It looks at how God uses questions, and explores how the 300+ questions answered by Jesus helped to clarify where His listeners were at and lead them to faith.
- It looks at how our use of questions can develop those we question by moving beyond superficial social interactions into stronger and healthier relationships. This is a helpful section because it helps the reader not lose sight of the objectives of asking questions. It is not to interrogate people, but to help to bring out the best in people – including ourselves!
- It seeks to be immensely practical by providing lots of ways that we can learn to flex our muscles in the pursuit of question-asking fitness.
In the two-page conclusion, that appropriately is headed by a question: “Now What?”, the author relates the story of how an attendee at one of his seminars who at first was sceptical concerning the value of asking questions. When he returned home, he sought to be more intentional in asking questions of his wife and family, and was surprised by the results!
The book contains the following additional resources at the back: a discussion guide; questions to ask ourselves; questions to stimulate thought and action in faith communities; and an examination of how Jesus used questions.
What is holding you back from asking better questions?
The author quotes Elie Wiesel: “In the word question, there is a beautiful word – quest. I love that word.”
Have you considered that you might be missing something by not asking good questions? Why not do yourself a favour and get a copy of this book to read and pass on?
THE ART OF ASKING BETTER QUESTIONS: Pursuing stronger relationships, healthier leadership and deeper faith. By J.R. Briggs. IVP. 202 pages. £14.99. ISBN 978 1 514 011 119
