Always Ask Questions

My mom taught me somewhere along the way that you should always ask questions when given the opportunity to do so. As an adult who has been in more training sessions than I care to remember, this has served me well. Not a class goes by that I don’t ask one, and usually so many questions, that other people probably get annoyed. But I figure it’s my time and money and I want to learn all I can.

Now, asking questions doesn’t just apply to a classroom situation. The same is true on a teleseminar or conference call. But the real proof is in a public forum or attending a lecture or a speech that someone is giving. For example, a few years ago, Doro Bush (daughter of President H.W. Bush) spoke at a luncheon I was attending. My friends at the table were somewhat surprised when I raised my hand to ask a couple of questions about security at the White House. It’s part of my nature to be formulating some questions during a presentation, because there is ALWAYS the opportunity to ask. Don’t you know I would be at that microphone at a Town Hall meeting?

The same should be true for you in business. Be listening and watching for the opportunity to ask questions. Seek out experts in your field and find a way to connect with them. Twitter is a great place to do that. Craft an online survey using a tool like SurveyMonkey.com. Talk to people in your target market and ask them what their issues are and what problems they have in their own companies, or with their clients. By asking questions you will get the information you need to craft a better solution for them. Without knowing what problem to solve, you may end up with a product or service that doesn’t solve any problem they have. Don’t assume you know what they want and need.

My challenge to you: ask a question at the next networking meeting, teleseminar, or presentation you attend. It’s a great way to stay involved with what the speaker is saying, and you might learn something REALLY interesting.