I have a question for you…do you ask questions?

Socrates taught that they quality of the questions we ask will determine the quality of the life we live.  Asking questions will take you further in life than most other things.  Show me someone who is good at asking questions and I will show you someone who is going somewhere with their life.  Asking questions is one of the fastest ways to grow and develop yourself.  How will you know what to do and who to be if you don’t ask an absurd amount of questions?

Most people want to spend time talking rather than asking and listening.  They are too busy thinking of what to say and what others think about them rather than learning and inquiring from someone’s experiences and wisdom.  So how do you ask questions? Ask the right people, the right questions, at the right time. 

1. Ask The Right People

There are those around us that have what we need.  They are a well of wisdom waiting for us to drink from if we would ask questions.  It is important to ask the right people the questions we have in life.  If you ask the wrong person you might get the wrong answer.  Identifying different people for different questions is the way we are sure to learn.  For every person you know there are different questions you should ask them to learn from.  Don’t ask the wrong person a right question, you will probably get a wrong answer.  Don’t ask questions to those that know nothing about what you want to know.  Seek out people that are further along and more knowledgeable about whatever it is you are asking.

2. The Right Questions

Be strategic about the questions you ask to the right people.  Don’t ask questions that serve no purpose.  Ask questions that will help you get what you need to get from the right people.  If you know you are going to be meeting with someone (the right person) take time to develop the right questions to ask.  When I am meeting with someone to gain wisdom from I spend a good amount of time writing questions down that I take with me.  Many people do not ask the right questions, they are asking questions they do not need to know.  They waste time on trivial questions that do not serve their purpose.  Ask questions that will pour into your life and give you great insight.

3. At The Right Time

To ask great questions you need to have good timing.  The right question and the wrong time can get no where.  Ease into questions and be mindful of the timing you have with people.  Sometimes the questions we have are better served at a later date.  Sometimes the questions we have need to be asked NOW! Don’t wait and don’t push, understand the law of timing.  The more you ask questions the better you will get with the right timing.  Asking the right people, the right questions, at the right timing gives you the right answers you need.  Be sensitive yet inquisitive with the questions you ask others.

James 1:19

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…