The Critical Question to Ask in Entrepreneurship & Creativity

Interviews are not limited to journalists and job interviewers. Interviewing is a process built in into our conversations. When you have a chat with friends and colleagues, hidden inside (often unconsciously) are a plethora of questions. These questions lead us down various Garden Paths of possibility. Each questions directs our attention to purposeful outcomes.

Comprehension is our ability to ask open-ended questions. We need to comprehend before we can understand something fully. The reality of our life is, we may think we understand something, yet we may not. The flaw of comprehension – despite being taught in early primary school – is that we were taught only the ‘5 W, one H’ version. As I found in my research over the past 10 years, many respondents/students miss out the critical sixth ‘W’ question based on creativity/entrepreneur thinking.

With your long-term relationship – do you fully understand him/her? How often has it been: ‘You don’t understand me!’ or ‘I’ll never understand you!’ Do you need to fully understand how a car or electricity works, before you can drive it or flick on the switch? My friend’s father, a former-meteorologist said to me in confidence: ‘Weather is more predictable than people. I still don’t understand my wife!’

Comprehension covers: what, who, when, which, where, why and how. Time and again, about 80 percent of my students miss out ‘which’. ‘Which’ presupposes options, choices, and alternatives: crucial elements in problem solving, and developing a ‘can do’ mindset. Ask ‘which other ways have we not considered?’ and your mind may spark off possibilities. ‘Which’ is non-judgmental versus ‘why?’ which has implications of consequence and repercussion.

Entrepreneurs often ask ‘which’. This question can provoke or invoke a mindset of ‘What else can we do?’ ‘What have we not considered?’ and ’Which other opportunities are there for us?’ Innovation scientists, branding experts, marketing consultants, and new business owners need to, continually, push the threshold of what has been done, to ‘What else has not been considered?’ Remember that ‘entrepreneur’ mans ‘first to enter’. Like Star Trek: ‘To boldly go where no one has gone before!

Be bold. Ask questions. Interview. Enjoy your conversations, and learn from those around you. Everyone is a crucible of potential and possibilities.

Modeling is a process where we study (through deliberate and cleverly designed questions) the mental models of people. We engage in a rapport, and then respectfully interview the person on their experiences, perceptions, opinions, abilities and approaches.

Leadership Homework: Read biographies, or books with transcripts of interviews with celebrities and leaders. Study the types of questions asked; or even the responses. You will get a better sense of who the person is, and how they tick.