The Power Of "What If" Questions

By Perry Rearick, Chief Editor, Follow Your Buyer

Thought for the Week—The power of “what if” questions!  

Questions come in many forms! They can be multiple choice, open and closed ended, leading and mis-leading, funneling, and probing. Business professionals love questions and there is an entire category of books and professional development material about asking questions to learn more, solve problems better, lead more effectively, and even persuade others.

Children ask far more questions than adults. Is it because we lose our sense of curiosity as we grow older? That’s a rhetorical question.

My favorite are “what if” questions! For instance, “what if I exercised more and ate healthier?” “What if” questions help us imagine things the way we want them to be, rather than the way they are. They can spur our imaginations and help us create something better. They can change the trajectory of our lives and our businesses.

When was the last time you asked a “what if” question of yourself or your business? That is a question meant to influence.

Keep an eye out for our newsletter on Wednesday in which we explore how a small marketing operation uses “what if” questions to accomplish big things. It may give you some ideas to help kick-start your own “what if” quest. I’d love to hear how it goes. 

I hope you have a great week!

--Perry