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cover of episode The Essentials: Asking Purposeful Questions

The Essentials: Asking Purposeful Questions

2025/3/24
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Women at Work

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People
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Alison Wood Brooks
哈佛商学院谈判和对话专家,研究对话心理学和情绪影响
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Amanda Kersey
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Amy Bernstein
主持哈佛商业评论的《Women at Work》播客,专注于工作场所心理健康和职业发展话题。
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Amy Gallo
通过播客和媒体贡献,帮助女性应对工作场所中的心理健康挑战。
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Megan
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Amy Bernstein: 我认为有目的的提问应该清晰、有针对性、有影响力,并且能够促进开放的对话,而不是引起对方的防御心理。这些特质也与领导力风范息息相关,需要自信和情商的支撑。 Megan: 我想学习如何以更具战略性的方式提问,并通过提问来提升自己在职场中的影响力,从而促进我的职业发展。 Alison Wood Brooks: 集体对话与一对一对话有很大不同,群体规模越大,协调难度和羞耻感也越大。在高压力的群体会议中,可以尝试在会议前后与相关人员进行一对一交流,以降低压力和提升沟通效率。在提问时,要勇于提出自己真正想问的问题,即使它可能显得不那么普通。要善于利用开放式问题,例如“能详细说说吗?”,来引导对方进一步阐述,并展现自身的求知欲。虚拟会议缺乏面对面交流的即时反馈,这会影响提问者的自信心和表达流畅性。在对话中出现“嗯”、“呃”以及语句不完整的情况是正常的,不必过于在意。可以通过提前思考问题类型(例如:思考型、感受型、积极/消极、不同视角、时间维度等)来提升提问的效率和深度。不要将优秀的沟通者视为天生如此,他们也付出了大量的努力和练习。要学会接纳对话的不完美性,并对自身和他人多一些宽容。寻求建议比寻求反馈更容易获得建设性意见,因为前者关注的是未来,后者关注的是过去。与其纠结于提出“正确”的问题,不如专注于持续追问,以获得更深入的信息。持续追问比不提问更重要,因为提问本身能够展现出对对话的兴趣和投入。在对话中,枯燥乏味比愤怒冲突更常见,因此不要害怕提出有深度的问题。 Amy Gallo: 如何在职位较低的情况下,克服恐惧,勇敢地提出问题?利用一对一交流来降低压力,并提前思考对话目标,以引导对话方向。可以通过提出分析性问题(例如:未来需要什么条件才能推进该计划?)来展现对团队和组织未来的投入。在提出敏感性问题时,应在提问和回答中都保持清晰和直接。在提问前明确说明提问的目的,可以降低对方的戒心,并促进更有效的沟通。在讨论战略或新产品时,可以明确表达自己希望利用答案来更好地说服他人。 Amanda Kersey: Amy Gallo 的提问风格注重实用性和可操作性,善于追问细节。Amy Bernstein 的提问风格注重挑战性和批判性思维,能够引发更深入的思考。作为领导者,我更看重提问者对问题的真挚好奇心以及对问题的深入理解和思考。 “你考虑过哪些其他方案?为什么选择这个方案?”是一个能够引发深入思考的有效问题。没有敏感的问题,只有敏感的语境。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter defines purposeful questions, highlighting their clarity, intentionality, impact, and ability to foster openness. It connects these qualities to executive presence, emphasizing confidence and emotional intelligence.
  • Purposeful questions have a clear purpose and are intentional.
  • They elucidate points or move conversations forward.
  • They invite openness and avoid defensiveness.
  • These traits are also seen in executive presence.

Shownotes Transcript

Asking questions at work isn’t just about getting answers. Sure, you need the information you’re requesting, but you’re also showing your colleagues and leaders how you think. When your questions are strategic, clear, and well-timed, they can show that you’re insightful and committed to moving the work forward while also demonstrating you have leadership potential.

Amy G talks with a program manager who wants to get better at asking questions that show executive presence. They’re joined by Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, who shares research-backed advice on navigating the complexities of workplace conversations.

**Guest expert: **

Alison Wood Brooks is a professor at Harvard Business School and the author of TALK: The Science Of Conversation And The Art Of Being Ourselves).

Resources:

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