Leadership - Asking the Right Questions
Module 5 – Critical Thinking Assignment – Leadership and Direction
Asking the Right Questions
John Wrzesinski
Org 300 – Applying Leadership Principles
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Charlotte Chase
December 29, 2012
In order to have a discussion about the importance of asking questions in the planning process, it is important to look at the overall impact asking questions has in the learning process itself. The early philosopher Socrates developed a technique of asking questions as a learning method that is still used today, it is called The Socratic Method. Simply explained, “This method the Socratic Method is named after Greek philosopher Socrates, who taught students by asking question after question, seeking to expose contradictions in the students’ thoughts and ideas to then guide them to arrive at a solid, tenable conclusion. The principle underlying the Socratic Method is that students learn through the use of critical thinking, reasoning, and logic, finding holes in their own theories and then patching them up.” (Fabio, 2012) The underlying truth here is that to gain understanding in any situation, you must first ask questions. If you do not ask questions, you do not get answers. Without answers you cannot do any successful planning, It is important that planning begins by thinking and “Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. Questions define tasks, express problems and delineate issues. Answers on the other hand, often signal a full stop in thought. Only when an answer generates a further question does thought continue its life as such.” ("The critical thinking," 2011)
If you embrace the concept that successful planning must include asking questions, the next logical step is to identify what questions need to be asked. Questions such as: “Why do we need to do anything at all?” and “What are we trying to accomplish?” are critical initial questions. If these
Asking the Right Questions
John Wrzesinski
Org 300 – Applying Leadership Principles
Colorado State University – Global Campus
Dr. Charlotte Chase
December 29, 2012
In order to have a discussion about the importance of asking questions in the planning process, it is important to look at the overall impact asking questions has in the learning process itself. The early philosopher Socrates developed a technique of asking questions as a learning method that is still used today, it is called The Socratic Method. Simply explained, “This method the Socratic Method is named after Greek philosopher Socrates, who taught students by asking question after question, seeking to expose contradictions in the students’ thoughts and ideas to then guide them to arrive at a solid, tenable conclusion. The principle underlying the Socratic Method is that students learn through the use of critical thinking, reasoning, and logic, finding holes in their own theories and then patching them up.” (Fabio, 2012) The underlying truth here is that to gain understanding in any situation, you must first ask questions. If you do not ask questions, you do not get answers. Without answers you cannot do any successful planning, It is important that planning begins by thinking and “Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions. Questions define tasks, express problems and delineate issues. Answers on the other hand, often signal a full stop in thought. Only when an answer generates a further question does thought continue its life as such.” ("The critical thinking," 2011)
If you embrace the concept that successful planning must include asking questions, the next logical step is to identify what questions need to be asked. Questions such as: “Why do we need to do anything at all?” and “What are we trying to accomplish?” are critical initial questions. If these
References: Fabio, M. (2012). About.com. Retrieved from http://lawschool.about.com/od/lawschoolculture/a/socraticmethod.html Clark, D. (2010, April 2). Leadership and direction. Retrieved from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leaddir.html (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socrates Morgen, S. (2010). Buy-in: What is it? and why is it important?. Retrieved from http://www.businessperform.com/articles/change-management/buy-in_to_change.html The critical thinking community. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/the-role-of-questions-in-teaching-thinking-and-learning/524[pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic][pic]