Smart Questions: Learn to Ask the Right Questions for Powerful Results

by Gerald Nadler, William J. Chandon

"Smart Questions" offers an entirely new framework for creating solutions. Drawn from the authors' many years of research and field experience, the Smart Questions Approach reveals how the leading creators of solutions in almost every profession and walk of life--including business, government, education, and even in families--think and approach their assignments. The author's holistic thinking approach shows how to use three "foundation" questions--focusing on uniqueness, purposeful information, and systems--which must be explored for every problem. These three questions, an essential starting point for exploring problems, in turn lead to other key questions that will ultimately create effective solutions.

Genres: Business

256 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dena Gregoire · Rating 1 out of 5]

The authors are not clear or concise in their communications. Most of the book is filled with pointless pontification, and overly dense academic drivel - rather than being considerate of their audiences' time. When you take the time to analyze each sentence there is very little substance. What substance there is could be edited down from 10 sentences to one. Where are the editors???? I suggest a new subtitle: how to make problem solving so complex and confusing that no one wants to do it any more. I challenge the authors to use their problem solving methodology to solve the problems of this book so that, if there are any gold nuggets here, audiences can find, understand and apply them. I am surprised by the high ratings. Maybe it's a case of the Emperor's New Clothes. Well I will gladly be the idiot that speaks first.

[Christophe Druet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely inspires. I recommend it to every single individual: both for professional life and for private life.

The Smart Questions Approach (SQA) is an alternative way to solve problems: no more short-term fixes, long-term living solutions. With SQA, instead of analytically dissecting a problem, you will build an adequate team to search for the purpose of what you are doing (and for the purpose of the purpose and so on). Then your team will identify the appropriate level of purpose to consider and will create a creative ideal solution for it (a dream). Finally, your team will translate this ideal solution into a living solution by defining steps in the implementation including reviewing the solution.

Skeptics will argue that it will take more time. Just remember how many times you have had to review those quick fixes you made.

In your organization, you will probably face resistance (job protection reactions) because you will tend to reconsider broadly the way things must be achieved.

[Manu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the way Gerald & William have described the whole process of "Questioning" especially with the point of view of solving problems. The whole "SQA - Smart Questions Approach" towards problem solving is interesting with a focus on always looking for bigger picture in terms of context, people involvement and future solution. This book presents a very detailed & comprehensive approach to problem solving - which is good to know but at times because of too many details - it tends to get little boring.
This book has numerous examples (from authors' consulting experience) where SQA helped companies to find solutions to organizational problems in a better, faster & cheaper way!

[Rodney Daut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches a process to take an ordinary project or problem and use it as the impetus for a breakthrough solution.