Ron Tustin – Changing Our Questions

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"To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science."  Albert Einstein

From time to time we may come across a book, hear a talk or meet someone where we pick up an idea that can have a profound effect on us. It may take our lives in a new direction and be the start of a permanent change for us.  One such event for me was when I read ‘Change your questions, change your life’ by Marilee Adams.  And I would like to share the idea from this book with you today.

The simple idea is that whenever something happens to us, we ask ourselves particular questions. They can either be ‘learner’ questions or ‘Judger’ questions. We usually run on ‘autopilot’ or are ‘hard-wired’ to ask ours elves ‘judger’ questions, which are often blaming others – ‘why did they do that?’ or blaming ourselves – why does this always happen to me?’, ‘ why am I so stupid?’  By asking ourselves such questions our own awareness is changed and we may be led to expect the worst.

However if we ask ourselves ‘learner’ questions such as ‘what are the facts or the assumptions here?’, ‘what can I offer ‘, ‘what is the best thing to do now?’ we open enormous possibilities both for ourselves and for others.

As the ‘judger’ path of enquiry is the one which we automatically go towards, the practical thing to do is to become aware of what we are doing, by listening to ourselves and switch to asking ‘learner’ questions.

Adams talks about the ABCD of making this change.

A – becoming aware of these types of questions, asking whether we like what we are doing and catch ourselves when we are asking ‘judger’ questions

B – breathe or pause

C – curiosity, and thinking of what it is we would really like to know

D – decide and so make the change to framing ‘learner’ questions.

I have found that by asking ‘learner’ questions it has a profound impact on my capacity and willingness to see new possibilities.

You can get more information on this topic from www.inquiryinstitute.com I hope you enjoy it.

Questions focus our thinking. Ask empowering questions like: What's good about this? What's not perfect about it yet? What am I going to do next time? How can I do this and have fun doing it? Charles Connolly.

Please tell me what you think or if you would like more information on this topic please contact me here.

Ron Tustin
Revive and Thrive Coaching, Professional Coach, member of International Coach Federation.

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www.reviveandthrivecoaching.com
info@rtc.org.nz
Ph 0800 003679

Motivating baby boomers to see the world with fresh eyes.