<ul><li>Ask <b>open-ended questions</b>: they unlock more information from people</li><li><b>Ask “why” 3 times</b>:  the easiest way to deepen the level of a conversation</li><li>Ask about <b>specifics</b>, not generalizations</li><li>Frame questions around a person’s <b>reactions to experiences</b></li><li>Pay attention to answers and<b> ask follow-up questions</b> to dig deeper</li><li>If you want to learn from somebody, the easiest way is to <b>ask them what they’ve learned</b></li><li>The most interesting information is found in <b>stories</b>, so ask people to tell you one</li><li><b>Ask what else you should ask</b>.</li></ul>

How to ask better questions 

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<figure><img src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2600/1*hMDpvos6wS8tFfm7bhXM4Q.jpeg"> </figure> <h2>How to ask better questions.</h2>
<p>Since my <a href="https://fortheinterested.com/two-minute-writing-tips/">tips to improve your writing in two minutes</a> were so popular, I thought I'd share some similar tips to improve your next conversation.</p>
<p>Following are the simplest tips I can give you to ask better questions, which will make your conversations more valuable to you and the people you engage with.</p>
<h3>Don't ask yes/no questions.</h3>
<p>Open-ended questions generate more interesting responses because they unlock more information from people.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Don't ask, "Do you like movies?" You'll get a more interesting answer if you ask, <em>"Why do you like movies?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask "why" three times.</h3>
<p>This is the easiest way to deepen the level of a conversation.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> If you ask a person why they like movies and they answer because it's a good escape, you can follow up with, <em>"Why do you feel like you need an escape?"</em> If they answer because their job is stressful, you can follow up with <em>"Why is your job stressful?"</em> Repeated "Why" questions can turn a simple question about movies into a much deeper conversation.</p>
<h3>Ask about specifics, not generalizations.</h3>
<p>Questions about specifics lead people to give you answers that are not generic.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Don't ask, "What was fun about your trip?" Instead, drill down and ask, <em>"What was the single most fun moment of the trip?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask about reactions.</h3>
<p>Frame questions around a person's reactions to experiences in their life&#8202;-&#8202;what surprised them, challenged them, or changed their viewpoint.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Don't ask, "What's it like to be a doctor?" Instead, ask <em>"What's the most surprising thing you've discovered about being a doctor?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask follow-up questions.</h3>
<p>When you ask a question, pay attention to the answer and ask a follow-up question about it to dig deeper.</p>
<p><strong>Example: </strong>If a person says the most surprising thing about being a doctor is how uncomfortable people get in hospitals, follow up with a question like, <em>"What do you do to help make them more comfortable?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask about lessons.</h3>
<p>If your goal is to learn from somebody, the easiest shortcut to do that is to ask them what they've learned.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Ask questions like, <em>"What did you learn from working with that client?,"</em> <em>"What do you wish you knew before you started working with them?," </em>and <em>"What advice would you have for others who want to get into your field?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask for a story.</h3>
<p>The most interesting information is found in stories, so ask people to tell you one.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Don't ask, "What's it like to be a teacher?" Instead, ask <em>"What's the craziest thing that's ever happened to you in a class?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask like a kid.</h3>
<p>If you don't fully understand something and want more clarity, ask a person how they would explain it to a kid or somebody with no experience on the subject.</p>
<p><strong>Example: </strong>Instead of asking, "Can you explain that product feature again?," ask <em>"How would you explain that feature to somebody who's never seen our product before?"</em></p>
<h3>Ask what else you should ask.</h3>
<p>When you wrap up your questions, give the other person an opportunity to tell you what you should have asked. They will likely suggest a question that provides valuable information.</p>
<p><strong>Example:</strong> Ask, <em>"Am I missing anything? What's the question nobody ever asks you but you wish they would?"</em></p>
<h3>One more thing...</h3>
<p>Each week I share a collection of 10 actionable ideas like this to improve your work, art, and life in my <a href="https://fortheinterested.com/subscribe/">For The Interested newsletter</a>.</p>
<p>You can <a href="https://fortheinterested.com/category/newsletter/">check out previous issues here</a>.</p>
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Since my tips to improve your writing in two minutes were so popular, I thought I'd share some similar tips to improve your next conversation. Following are the simplest tips I can give you to ask better questions, which will make your conversations more valuable to you and the people you engage with.

The 3 Minutes It Takes To Read This Will Improve Your Conversations Forever

How to ask better questions

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