Ask these questions to fire imagination

The Art of Questioning: A Guide to Igniting Imagination

When we create articles, conduct interviews or engage in interviews or on stage discussions, we use the art of questioning as an essential part of encouraging discovery and inspiring imagination to help our audience think more deeply, consider other perspectives, challenge assumptions and provide new insights.

Have you ever been curious about something?

Bringing the outdoors into my written work, here's an example of what I mean.

Maybe you wanted to know what type of plant it was that you were walking by, but when you asked, you got a direct answer that left you feeling uninterested. You immediately moved on to the next subject, but what if you were curious about why that particular plant was there? What it's purpose is? Or knowing if it's edible or poisonous to touch?

The truth is, that a direct answer usually results in very little further interest.

This is where the art of questioning comes into play and is something we use regularly at Waves Connects when interviewing guests for articles, case studies or content.

Developed by Jon Young, founder of the Wilderness Awareness School, there are three levels of questions - the confidence builder, the edge question, and the beyond-the-edge question. The idea is to join the person in their curiosity with an open mind. This is how we work when we are creating content - digging deep by asking questions to help tlel our clients or their cusomters unique stories.

It's amazing what you can find out if you just listen.

Level One: Confidence Builders

The first level of questioning is the confidence builder. It helps establish a rapport with the person you are speaking to. These questions are easy and straightforward and ones you know your guest would have an immediate answer for. It shows you, the interviewer, the level of knowledge of your guest too - so you know how to press on with your next questions while enabling your guest to relax and get into the mood for a good conversation.

For example, if you are talking with a potential customer, you may start by asking if they've used your product before and what their experience of it has been. These types of questions break the ice and get the conversation started. Confidence builders build trust and help to establish a connection with the other person.

Level Two: Edge Questions

The second level of questioning is the edge question. It is slightly more difficult and requires the person to stretch their imagination and provide a more descriptive answer. For example, instead of asking what type of plant they are looking at, you ask what type of leaves it has. These types of questions move beyond the surface level and help the person think more deeply about the subject at hand. Edge questions start to open up possibilities for conversation and can lead to more meaningful interactions - they are questions that are on the edge of the guests knowledge.

Level Three: Beyond the Edge Questions

The third level of questioning is the beyond-the-edge question. These questions require the person to use their imagination and think creatively.

For example, you may ask what the plant would say if it could speak. This type of question moves beyond the concrete and known world and into the imaginative.

Beyond the edge questions can inspire creativity and help your audience see things from an entirely new or different perspective. They are the key to igniting imagination and sparking meaningful conversations to open up new realms of what is possible. The art of questioning is an essential tool for event marketers, event hosts, copywriters, and anyone who wants to make a meaningful connection with others.

By using these three types of questions; confidence builders, edge questions, and beyond-the-edge questions, you can inspire imagination and open up deeper conversations and create more meaningful business relationships as well as more insightful content.

As we've seen, simply asking a direct question can lead to a dead end. However, by joining the person in their curiosity and encouraging them to think more deeply, you can create a more meaningful conversation.

So the next time you're curious about something, remember the art of questioning and see where it takes you. Who knows, you may be surprised by what you discover.

If you want help telling your story, get in touch - we love to talk (and ask questions).