Here's how you can enhance your communication as a Strategy professional using active questioning techniques.

En mi experiencia para facilitar la conversación, es bueno abrir con algunas preguntas abiertas con foco en el futuro, por ejemplo: ¿Cuál es la visión a largo plazo de la empresa? ¿Dónde te gustaría estar en 5 años más? ¿Cuál es tu mayor ventaja competitiva? ¿Qué te diferencia de la competencia? Esto permite entender cómo distintos miembros de la empresa perciben las fortalezas de la empresa, cuál es la visión de futuro y si esta es compartida o se contraponen. Dar espacio para que cada miembro exponga las oportunidades y riesgos que percibe, sus inquietudes y motivaciones, todo esto da un contexto que es clave cuando necesitas alinear objetivos y diseñar la estrategia de la compañía.

To up your game in strategy, you can boost your communication with active questioning by mastering active listening. Really tune into what people are saying so you can ask sharp, relevant questions. This isn’t about giving orders but guiding others to their own smart choices. Listen better, ask better, help better.

Absolutely, active listening is crucial for effective communication and strategic questioning. By fully engaging with the speaker, you can identify key points, underlying concerns, and potential areas for further exploration. This not only leads to more insightful questions but also builds rapport and trust, which are essential for successful collaboration and problem-solving.

Out of all of these techniques, I believe active listening is the most difficult because as people I think we want to jump quickly to an answer. Active listen requires not only hearing, but understanding, and then questioning to clarify but also to probe and challenge to ensure various approaches and perspectives are considered

Active listening is very crucial and plays a significant role particularly in leading and implementing a 'change initiative'. In proposing or convincing your audience/stakeholders for a change, it is fundamentally imperative to invite your audience/stakeholders to share their perspectives & challenges , actively listen to them in order to grasp correct understanding of their pain areas, and accordingly propose your strategy that addresses their concerns, mitigates their issues, adds value and achieves organisational goals.

Questions should all stem from genuine curiosity. Questions can be open ended or close ended. Each conversation demands a different approach. Every segment of each conversation demands a different approach. Some conversations need to start with close ended questions which help determine the follow up open ended questions. While others might be better led on with open ended questions. For example let’s assume your team comes to you with a problem. Now, depending on the criticality or urgency of the situation at hand one might make a judicious call. Here, curiosity is to lead the team to a solution. Be curious and ask questions

I totally agree. In strategic discussions and planning it’s much better to have open questions. You don’t want a simple yes or no you want to get the team to start to engage and think strategically by employing open questions. It allows everybody to think reflect share, and it leads to much more meaningful outcomes.

Open questions are invaluable for strategic communication. They prompt detailed responses and deeper reflection, leading to a fuller exchange of ideas. For instance, asking "What challenges do you foresee with this strategy?" invites comprehensive discussion and uncovers insights that might remain hidden. This technique is especially useful during the early stages of strategy development, aiding in exploring possibilities and gauging opinions.

Here are 3 key things to do with open questions in strategic communication, with examples: 1. Start with powerful question words: Use "how," "what," "why," or "describe" to encourage detailed responses. Example: "How do you envision this strategy impacting our market position?" 2. Focus on outcomes and implications: Frame questions around future scenarios or potential consequences. Example: "What long-term effects might this decision have on our stakeholder relationships?" 3. Explore alternatives and opportunities: Use questions to stimulate creative thinking and uncover new possibilities. Example: "In what ways could we adapt this approach to address emerging market trends?" These techniques foster deeper discussions.

Asking probing questions allows bringing alignment among seemingly contrarian ideas. The resulting clarity of vision, optimal use of resources, with mutually exclusive levers of negotiation is worth the effort it takes to prepare for these types of conversations. The approach of to probe deeper into key topics is akin to peeling an onion to identify, isolate, and address root causes.

Probing queries are essential for uncovering deeper insights beyond surface-level information. Following an initial response with questions like "Can you explain further?" or "What leads you to that conclusion?" encourages thorough analysis and reveals the underlying assumptions or data driving a person's perspective. For a strategy professional, effective probing ensures you don't just accept information at face value but actively seek the rationale behind it, which is crucial for making informed strategic decisions.

Probing questions are a powerful tool for consultants to gain deeper insights, uncover issues, and develop effective solutions. Effective probing questions come in various forms, such as clarification, follow-up, motivational, empathetic, hypothetical and reflective questions. Strategists should use a mix of open-ended and targeted questions, listen actively, maintain a neutral tone, and adapt their questioning style to the stakeholder. By mastering this skill, you can provide high-impact strategic guidance to drive business success.

Probing questions should lead us to greater clarity on matter at hand and how to respond to it. So: 1. What is the top most, main, key, or root thing about the subject or matter at hand (proposal, problem, or whatever) in discussion? 2. What are secondary matters involved? 3. What are the best response first to address the main thing and then to address the other secondary things? 4. Are the practical response of actions considered strategic (longer term or structural actions) or tactical (quicker shorter term fixes)?

Probing questions can help you get to the root of what clients really want. This is true for both strategy and many other professional fields. Learn to ask for their reason behind their initial desired outcome. Asking "why" should allow you to get a better idea of what lies beneath the surface!

Reflective questioning enhances communication by encouraging deeper thinking and ensuring clarity. By asking questions that mirror or probe further into the speaker's statements, it helps both parties explore ideas more thoroughly and confirm understanding. This technique can reveal underlying issues, motivations, and emotions, fostering a richer dialogue. Reflective questioning also demonstrates active listening and empathy, making the speaker feel valued and understood. It promotes mutual respect and can lead to more thoughtful and meaningful exchanges, ultimately improving the quality of communication and the effectiveness of collaborative problem-solving.

That’s a very important technique and I use it all the time. It goes like this: “let me make sure I understood you correctly, you just said that …” and you briefly summarize what you just heard. Your counterpart would either nod and acknowledge that you’re on the right track or add some important piece of information that you might have missed. This is essential for improving understanding and reaching an agreement.

Reflective questioning is a powerful communication technique that encourages deeper thinking and understanding. It involves asking questions that reflect back what the speaker has said, prompting them to elaborate or reconsider their perspectives. This technique helps clarify thoughts, uncover underlying issues, and foster open dialogue. Key practices include listening actively, rephrasing statements into questions, and encouraging detailed responses. Mastering reflective questioning enhances problem-solving, builds empathy, and promotes effective communication in both personal and professional settings.

C'est à mon sens une des techniques la plus efficace pour élaborer. Elle permet de rendre explicite une connaissance implicite chez l'autre. Cela permet le passage de l'inconscient au conscient. L'échange est d'une autre nature. Et effectivement, des réflexions plus approfondies émergent ainsi.

The majority of communication problems take place when there is a loss in translation (even when they are speaking the same language ) Reiterating what you heard and how you understood it decreases the chances of this from happening.

Enhance strategic communication with analogical thinking. Compare your strategy to unrelated fields: 1. Jazz Musician: “How would a jazz musician improvise our next move?” Jazz fosters flexibility and creativity. 2. Chef: “How would a top chef design our process?” Chefs balance ingredients and techniques. 3. Architect: “If our strategy were a building, what style would it be?” Architects blend form and function. 4. Gardener: “How would a gardener cultivate growth?” Gardeners focus on long-term development. 5. Explorer: “How would an explorer chart new territories?” Explorers navigate with curiosity. These analogies can inspire innovative conversation and dynamic thinking.

In my experience, what-if questioning, including probabilistic forecasting is the most powerful strategic practice. Business assumptions rarely align completely with reality, and actual results can be very sensitive to even minor gaps to assumptions. In short, being scenario enabled, not just data driven, is a necessity in making the best possible decisions.

Any strategy professional would welcome an opportunity to discuss contingencies. We all know we aren't infallible and can't foresee everything. Sharing 'What-If' scenarios during your conversations showcases that you have not only understood the challenges but are actively trying to brainstorm solutions that can save them both time and money going forward. Researching the person you are speaking with, their probable focus areas, their KPIs and most importantly - 'what would add value to their work' would help in foreseeing situations that can be a bother. Try thinking from their perspective and imagine scenarios which could arise from their current plan of action, then try and analyze the best course correcting measures.

Hypothetical scenarios are powerful tools for fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By presenting imaginary situations, they encourage individuals to explore different perspectives, anticipate potential outcomes, and consider various solutions. This technique is widely used in education, business, and strategic planning to stimulate creative thinking and decision-making. Key practices include imagining realistic scenarios, analyzing possible responses, and discussing implications. Mastering hypothetical scenarios enhances adaptability and strategic thinking, making it a valuable asset in navigating complex challenges.

Hypothetical scenarios, using 'what if' questions, help strategists anticipate outcomes and adapt plans proactively, fostering robust and flexible strategies.

Enhancing communication as a strategy professional using active questioning involves mastering techniques that elicit deeper insights and foster engaging interactions. Things like open-ended questions, probing for more details, and reflecting on responses can uncover hidden concerns and promote meaningful discussions. In my experience, starting meetings with broad, open-ended questions helps clients & team members share their perspectives fully. Probing questions can then delve into specifics, while reflective listening confirms understanding and builds trust. This way ensures that all voices are heard, leading to more informed decision-making and robust strategy development, ultimately driving better outcomes and stronger relationships.

One who can summarise the discussion into objective buckets/ steps and questions would always be able to provide solutions. This also reflects that the person was properly listened

Summarizing questions are a great way to ensure responsibility has been given and everyone has the clarity they need to move forward in the right direction.

Summarizing discussions is critical. I always do this in a structured way. I do this in a spreadsheet that everyone can see. This is when there is a chance modify the wording. Remember that strategic planning is often a very subtle art. You do not want to dismiss ideas and directions until they are carefully considered. By summarizing discussions in writing and doing a continuous review of this, you get better outcomes. Also, I must say that as part of the early stages of understanding potential directions you should use LLM's in this live environment. This often gives out garbage, but also often contains nuggets of knowledge you can use in your summarization process.

It's the key! The art of regormulation. When your customer accepts it, validates it, it's the only signal that allows you to move on to the next stage, namely your offer. C’est la clef! L’art de reformuler parfaitement, l’unique certitude quand votre prospect acquiesce que vous pouvez passer à l’étape suivante

Adding mataphors and drilling down into details ensuring completion and attention to details, supporting questions with what-if analysis adds more value to the strategic questions. This technique allows to delve into dimensions that might not be highlighted otherwise.

Enhance communication using active questioning techniques by: 1.Clarifying Objectives: Ask open-ended questions like, "What are we aiming to achieve?" and, "Why is this goal important?" 2.Gathering Information: Use questions like, "Can you walk me through the process?" and, "What other factors should we consider?" 3. Encouraging Innovation: Pose questions such as, "What if we approached this differently?" 4.Fostering Collaboration: Ask, "How can your team contribute?" and, "What are your concerns?" 5.Identifying Concerns: Inquire about obstacles and solutions. 6.Monitor Progress: "How are we tracking?" Listen actively, paraphrase, follow up, use silence, and stay neutral to ensure effective communication and strategic outcomes.

Important to have all voices heard. This can be difficult if people do not feel their voice will be heard or the loudest voices suck the air out of the room. I encourage people to write their thoughts down first without peer or boss influences. The facilitator can then share everyone’s thoughts.

However, high emotions or unconscious bias that isn’t acknowledged can cloud judgment and hinder decision-making. Emotions might cause resistance to change or an overreaction to perceived threats, while unconscious bias can lead to favoritism or overlooking critical insights. The importance of active questioning, and listening is critical for success. As you create a safe space for honest dialogue, you help uncover and work through bias and manage the emotional response. Ultimately, as Steven Covey Jr advised, the aim is to get clarity, reduce miscommunication, and most importantly build trust, the basis for inspiring teams to do great work. This ultimately enhances strategic decisions, making the likelihood of success possible.

DONT BE AFRAID! Gain the confidence you need by listening, researching, and having the necessary information in the right context. Additionally, a smart move is to ensure that when you ask questions, you also provide your own hypotheses. This way, your inquiries are more constructive and demonstrate your critical thinking.