Asking powerful questions
How asking these 5 questions helps us master the art of purposeful self-reflection
Hey, this is Zubin 👋
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Asking the right questions
I had an opportunity to mentor someone on Topmate this week. We discussed Consulting career pathways, how to get promoted in a Big4 consulting company, how new-age recruitment works, freelancing and lots more.
What caught my attention was how well-prepared the mentee was with her questions. She had her list in front of her, but also had brilliant follow-up enquiries into my responses. I am sure she took away a lot more from the 30-minute session than she anticipated - all because she asked the right questions.
This made me wonder do we really ask ourselves questions about our own growth? Do we ask regularly? If we do, are these really the right questions?
As a coach, it is ingrained in me to challenge my clients by asking them questions about their present and the future. It makes them think clearly of their obstacles and it eventually leads to finding purpose and growth.
But what’s next? From that point onwards, how can we attract consistent growth at work and in life?
By asking ourselves the right questions.
I capture questions every day from books, articles, newsletters, coaching sessions, mentorships, networking and speaking events.
And I came up with five questions that matter the most. These are the most impactful in my experience. I invite you use these as weekly journaling prompts or to self-reflect in ad-hoc situations. These questions will surely help you unlock useful perspectives.
Let’s get to it.
Is this making me a better person?
Whether it is a project I am working on at work, or watching something on TV, this question always makes me pause and think hard. Even though the definition of ‘better’ is different for all of us, this question helps us understand if we are getting better than our previous self. It inspires continuous learning.
Will this matter in a year from now?
My mentor (in 2015) suggested this question to me when I was getting worked up fighting fires on a project. I then asked myself this question almost everyday to understand what was really urgent at work. Urgent is very rarely actually urgent. Fake urgency limits your progress at work, and this question is an antidote that always helps.
Does this goal give you déjà vu?
Some goals keep coming back to us. You may have dreamt of writing a book 4 years ago, and then again 2 years ago, and again today. Or complete that masters’ degree? Start a podcast? When goals never seem to go away, this may be a strong sign to start working towards it. Starting never hurts.
Are you brave enough to unplug?
Busyness is glamourised in today’s way of working. We look at full calendars on weekdays and busy weekends as a measure of success. Instead, how about we challenge ourselves to unplug? Unplug from setting up back-to-back meetings, or from declining calls from our loved ones, or from pushing ourselves too hard towards goals which won’t add value to our true being.
What would an outsider say about this?
If you want to make a big impact, think like an outsider. Disruption happens when you ask the fly on the wall how they asses your actions and thoughts. A third-person perspective is often all we need to re-imagine how we do things. It helps you think more creatively and openly.
A prudent question is one half of wisdom.
- Francis Bacon
Every question you ask opens up a new pathway. They won’t all lead to success, but when you find the right question to ask it can be the key to unlocking something extraordinary.
Reply and share what questions have helped you grow better?
That’s all this week. If you liked reading, please share this newsletter with your friends.
I coach highly motivated managers, leaders and entrepreneurs through their career dilemmas.
To book a free coaching discovery call, click here.
If you are seeking mentoring, find me on Topmate.
Or just drop by on LinkedIn to say hi!
Always rooting for your success,
Zubin 👋
Great post!
The questions I ask myself most often are: Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this that way?
These are helpful questions for me because they help me determine if my actions are driven by conditioning, trauma response (survival mode), avoidance, or if I'm being intentional.
The "why" questions are extremely valuable in self-assessment.