What do you think?
Rate this book
The 7 Powers of Questions: Secrets to Successful Communication in Life and at Work
Questions...? demand answers ? stimulate thinking ? give us valuable information ? put us in control ? get people to open up ? lead to quality listening ? get people to sell themselvesThey're an essential tool of the seeker and the problem-solver, and in our personal and professional lives, they can make the difference between getting what we want and going without. Questions have power-and by harnessing that power, we can change our world. This unique book reveals the seven powers of questions-and shows how to use them most effectively. Learn how questions can improve relationships, help determine what people really want, uncover opportunities, persuade others, and get more out of every business or personal encounter.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2000
63 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 17, 2025
Curiosity is your superpower, and Dorothy Leeds’ The 7 Powers of Questions shows you how to wield it. As a former corporate executive and graduate-level adjunct professor, I’ve always encouraged my teams and students to ask questions—not just to gain knowledge, but to start conversations, spark connections, uncover opportunities, and challenge assumptions. Leeds’ book takes this principle further, proving that the power of inquiry is transformative in life, work, and leadership.
As children, we asked countless questions—“Why is the sky blue?” “How does this work?”—because we were curious, eager to learn, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. But somewhere along the way, most of us stopped. Leeds argues that society conditions us to accept things as they are instead of questioning them, and she offers practical tools to reverse this trend.
For business leaders, this book is a game-changer. The ability to ask thoughtful, strategic questions is essential to inspiring teams, uncovering solutions, and driving results. Leeds’ insights remind us that great leaders aren’t those with all the answers—they’re the ones who ask the right questions.
What I love most about this book is its empowering message: questions are power. Asking the right ones helps you harness confidence, determination, and self-reliance. Leeds doesn’t just tell you to ask questions; she teaches you how to ask the ones that matter.
Key Takeaways:
• Curiosity Fuels Success: Leeds demonstrates how asking better questions leads to breakthroughs in business, relationships, and self-awareness.
• Reconnect with Wonder: Her techniques help you rediscover the fearless curiosity you had as a child.
• Lead with Inquiry: Learn to ask questions that inspire your team, drive innovation, and navigate challenges.
Whether you’re a leader, professional, a student, or simply someone seeking personal growth, this book is an invitation to rediscover your curiosity, challenge assumptions, and take control of your life. Once you read it and apply Leeds’ insights, you’ll find yourself approaching every situation with renewed curiosity and purpose.
Start asking better questions today—and watch your impact grow.
Rating: 5/5
Charles Francis, 1/16/2024
As children, we asked countless questions—“Why is the sky blue?” “How does this work?”—because we were curious, eager to learn, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. But somewhere along the way, most of us stopped. Leeds argues that society conditions us to accept things as they are instead of questioning them, and she offers practical tools to reverse this trend.
For business leaders, this book is a game-changer. The ability to ask thoughtful, strategic questions is essential to inspiring teams, uncovering solutions, and driving results. Leeds’ insights remind us that great leaders aren’t those with all the answers—they’re the ones who ask the right questions.
What I love most about this book is its empowering message: questions are power. Asking the right ones helps you harness confidence, determination, and self-reliance. Leeds doesn’t just tell you to ask questions; she teaches you how to ask the ones that matter.
Key Takeaways:
• Curiosity Fuels Success: Leeds demonstrates how asking better questions leads to breakthroughs in business, relationships, and self-awareness.
• Reconnect with Wonder: Her techniques help you rediscover the fearless curiosity you had as a child.
• Lead with Inquiry: Learn to ask questions that inspire your team, drive innovation, and navigate challenges.
Whether you’re a leader, professional, a student, or simply someone seeking personal growth, this book is an invitation to rediscover your curiosity, challenge assumptions, and take control of your life. Once you read it and apply Leeds’ insights, you’ll find yourself approaching every situation with renewed curiosity and purpose.
Start asking better questions today—and watch your impact grow.
Rating: 5/5
Charles Francis, 1/16/2024
December 12, 2019
The author is very thoughtful and insightful.
I will summarize the points that were helpful to me personally.
What I got out of the book were...
1. Do not be afraid of asking questions.
2. Listen carefully to the answers.
3. Bring the control back to your hands by asking questions.
4. Be sensitive and empathetic when asking questions.
5. Do not make assumptions and clarify the unknown.
6. Asking culture stimulates creativity vs telling culture.
7. Listen to the emotions, wants and needs of others.
I will summarize the points that were helpful to me personally.
What I got out of the book were...
1. Do not be afraid of asking questions.
2. Listen carefully to the answers.
3. Bring the control back to your hands by asking questions.
4. Be sensitive and empathetic when asking questions.
5. Do not make assumptions and clarify the unknown.
6. Asking culture stimulates creativity vs telling culture.
7. Listen to the emotions, wants and needs of others.
January 31, 2022
A superlative book.
It should be mandatory reading in college. It will be useful for those in the field of education, coaching and training, and anyone who wants to build better, stronger relationships and businesses.
The standout for me was the last three chapters - the detailing was fantastic.
It should be mandatory reading in college. It will be useful for those in the field of education, coaching and training, and anyone who wants to build better, stronger relationships and businesses.
The standout for me was the last three chapters - the detailing was fantastic.
July 28, 2017
I've always regarded questions as essential to growing self and relationships with others. This book has not only increased my belief; it has grown my skill set.
March 22, 2021
Recommended by Josh Denny
March 30, 2021
Really great practical applications of learning and questioning as they relate to effective leadership.
June 1, 2012
As the title makes obvious, this is one of those business targeted self help books, a genre that I generally do not find to compelling. In many ways, this book suffered from the flaws that make that genre unappealing to me. It was anecdote driven rather than data driven, tended to be wordy, and had a rather tedious chapter on applying the power of questions to sales.
But despite all that, the book had a lot of valuable content, and for that content I upped what would generally be a 2/5 to a 3/5 (on my scale, that means that this book is average for books that have already passed my initial filters). Leeds clearly knows her stuff, and I probably would highly enjoy taking one of her seminars. As seems to generally be the case, the skills that make someone a valuable teacher do not make you a good writer, but the core content of this book is solid. I have started writing down valuable quotes when I read, and I probably averaged 1 quote every 2-3 pages for the first half of the book (the second half was mostly about applying the first half to sales and parenting, neither of which is particularly useful to me).
The first half of the book, the useful half, consists of an introductory chapter followed by a chapter discussing in detail the seven powers of questions. I'll just list those powers:
- Questions demand answers. People generally feel compelled to answer when they are asked questions.
- Questions stimulate thinking. Both asking and answering questions require thought and break people out of autopilot.
- Questions give us valuable information.
- Questions put you in control by providing a way to guide a conversation.
- Questions get people to open up. People love to tell about their life and interests, and that sharing leads to deeper relationships. Questions can be used to encourage someone to talk.
- Questions lead to quality listening. When you ask questions, you are more invested in what the other person is saying and will listen better.
- Questions get people to persuade themselves. When people present ideas in their own words, they take ownership of that idea.
Leeds gave a illustrative example of how to use the last power. She had once talked to a manager about helping create a training program for people in his organization. When they met again, he had changed his mind. Instead of asking him why he had changed his mind, she asked what had excited him about the program in the first place. The former question would have just cemented his decision not to build a program. The later question reminded him what was good about it and did so much more persuasively than if Leeds had told him the exact same things.
If you want a book on asking better questions, this one can be valuable if you're willing to look past the business speak. I certainly got a lot out of it.
But despite all that, the book had a lot of valuable content, and for that content I upped what would generally be a 2/5 to a 3/5 (on my scale, that means that this book is average for books that have already passed my initial filters). Leeds clearly knows her stuff, and I probably would highly enjoy taking one of her seminars. As seems to generally be the case, the skills that make someone a valuable teacher do not make you a good writer, but the core content of this book is solid. I have started writing down valuable quotes when I read, and I probably averaged 1 quote every 2-3 pages for the first half of the book (the second half was mostly about applying the first half to sales and parenting, neither of which is particularly useful to me).
The first half of the book, the useful half, consists of an introductory chapter followed by a chapter discussing in detail the seven powers of questions. I'll just list those powers:
- Questions demand answers. People generally feel compelled to answer when they are asked questions.
- Questions stimulate thinking. Both asking and answering questions require thought and break people out of autopilot.
- Questions give us valuable information.
- Questions put you in control by providing a way to guide a conversation.
- Questions get people to open up. People love to tell about their life and interests, and that sharing leads to deeper relationships. Questions can be used to encourage someone to talk.
- Questions lead to quality listening. When you ask questions, you are more invested in what the other person is saying and will listen better.
- Questions get people to persuade themselves. When people present ideas in their own words, they take ownership of that idea.
Leeds gave a illustrative example of how to use the last power. She had once talked to a manager about helping create a training program for people in his organization. When they met again, he had changed his mind. Instead of asking him why he had changed his mind, she asked what had excited him about the program in the first place. The former question would have just cemented his decision not to build a program. The later question reminded him what was good about it and did so much more persuasively than if Leeds had told him the exact same things.
If you want a book on asking better questions, this one can be valuable if you're willing to look past the business speak. I certainly got a lot out of it.
January 7, 2014
At the first time looking for this book on goodreads, I was considered so much since the fact that this book has received just average 3 stars and just few people reading and rating. However, I still read it carefully and finding that it's such a very valuable, good research book with a lot of useful information! I think one of the key for effective listening skill is questioning, and this book will show you a lot of methods to do it effectively. Although some of information in this book was prolonged, I rate it with 5 stars.
August 26, 2009
I had to read this book for work. It was a pretty interesting book and i hope to use it's principles in my daily life.
May 2, 2017
two ways to acquire knowledge: 1. read books and ask questions.
you can ask questions about facts, emotional, and future circumstance. Asking not telling to build true relationships. It worth reading many times
you can ask questions about facts, emotional, and future circumstance. Asking not telling to build true relationships. It worth reading many times
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews