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POWERFUL QUESTIONS
Catalyzing Insight, Innovation, and Action
ISBN 0-9724716-1-8
www.theworldcafe.com www.pegasuscom.com
5702
09 08 07 06 05 04 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
THE ART OF POWERFUL QUESTIONS
Catalyzing Insight, Innovation, and Action
“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on over time, led to significant advances in the field of
the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining physics. Many years later, an empirical demonstration
the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper ques- showed that light from distant stars actually curved as
tion, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.” it passed through the gravitational force of our sun.
—ALBERT EINSTEIN
Einstein’s graduate students rushed to him as he was
walking through the Princeton campus and
James Burke, CEO, “What is the most ethical action we might take?” Restoration of consumer
Johnson & Johnson confidence
Ray Kroc “Where can I get a good hamburger on the road?” Creation of McDonald’s
THE FIRST DIMENSION: As you move from the simple “yes/no” question at
The Construction of a Question the beginning toward the “why” question at the end,
The linguistic construction of a question can make a you’ll notice that the queries tend to stimulate more
critical difference in either opening our minds or nar- reflective thinking and a deeper level of conversation.
Here is a series of generative questions that we and other colleagues have found useful to stimulate new knowl-
edge and creative thinking in a wide variety of situations around the world. Look at these questions to stimulate
your own thinking about questions related to your own specific situation. Play. Use your imagination.
Questions for Focusing Collective Attention ■ What’s missing from this picture so far? What is it
on Your Situation we’re not seeing? What do we need more clarity
■ What question, if answered, could make the about?
most difference to the future of (your specific ■ What’s been your/our major learning, insight, or
situation)? discover so far?
■ What’s important to you about (your specific ■ What’s the next level of thinking we need to do?
situation) and why do you care? ■ If there was one thing that hasn’t yet been said in
■ What draws you/us to this inquiry? order to reach a deeper level of understanding/
■ What’s our intention here? What’s the deeper pur- clarity, what would that be?
pose (the big “why”) that is really worthy of our
best effort? Questions That Create Forward Movement
■ What opportunities can you see in (your specific ■ What would it take to create change on this
situation)? issue?
■ What do we know so far/still need to learn about ■ What could happen that would enable you/us to
(your specific situation)? feel fully engaged and energized about (your
■ What are the dilemmas/opportunities in (your specific situation)?
specific situation)? ■ What’s possible here and who cares? (rather than
■ What assumptions do we need to test or “What’s wrong here and who’s responsible?”)
challenge here in thinking about (your specific ■ What needs our immediate attention going
situation)? forward?
■ What would someone who had a very different ■ If our success was completely guaranteed, what
set of beliefs than we do say about (your specific bold steps might we choose?
situation)? ■ How can we support each other in taking the next
steps? What unique contribution can we each
Questions for Connecting Ideas and make?
Finding Deeper Insight ■ What challenges might come our way and how
■ What’s taking shape? What are you hearing under- might we meet them?
neath the variety of opinions being expressed? ■ What conversation, if begun today, could ripple out
What’s in the center of the table? in a way that created new possibilities for the
■ What’s emerging here for you? What new future of (your situation)?
connections are you making? ■ What seed might we plant together today that
■ What had real meaning for you from what you’ve could make the most difference to the future of
heard? What surprised you? What challenged you? (your situation)?
incorporate time for systemwide reflection in order to these key strategic questions are often lost because
enable members to share insights and emerging ques- few of today’s leaders have been trained to notice,
tions. Collective reflection provides opportunities for honor, and utilize the social fabric of learning that
the shared meaning-making that is essential in times of occurs through informal “communities of practice”
turbulence and change. that exist throughout the organization.A community of
Nurturing Communities of Practice. Many of practice is made of up people who share a common
the most provocative questions that are vital to an interest and who work together to expand their indi-
organization’s future are first discovered on the front vidual and collective capacity to solve problems over
lines, in the middle of the action of everyday life. But time.