Without a way of understanding the nature of a ‘better question’ this is mere tautology. If we get a better answer then it must have been a better question! However, since we will not know until after the event, this is not a useful way of determining the nature of a ‘better question’.
I asked Talking Infrastructure Vice Chair, and Technology One Super Star, Jeff Roorda, for his view. This was his response.
Better questions are those that explore the future possible impacts of today’s decisions.
Better questions are those that recognise that the future is uncertain and do not seek to provide false comfort by claiming certainty in the assumptions we make and the outcomes we predict.
Better questions look at the things that could happen, and their costs and consequences, so that we can develop scenarios that act as a guide to the way we need to react as the world changes and as we get more information and more feedback.
Better questions recognise that we can choose the futures we want, and provide us the means to achieve them.
Better questions enable us to put in place a future accountability for present decisions.
These questions have 2 types of power and here Jeff focuses on the constructive power.
If we view the universe as a place of abundance and love then these 5questions engender hope, gratitude and joy. These are the thoughts of creativity, invention and collaboration. The opposites are scarcity, greed and fear and both joy/gratitude and fear/scarcityare perceptions that are real in ones mind. They are a choice. Leadership is a choice forcreativity, invention and collaboration, therefore joy/gratitude. Control and desire for power is the opposite and also a choice.These 5 questions shine a light of truth on perception so we can see what is in error.
If someone says “this infrastructure project will provide these benefits” then this must be tested now and in the future. In a spirit of joy/gratitude we recognise that our understanding is imperfect so we are not afraid to admit the uncertainty of our project/solution. We invite better ideas. Criticism and attack have no meaning– if someone has a better idea we welcome it and test it in the same way our idea was tested.
How does this square with your idea of ‘a better question’? We not only invite better ideas – we warmly welcome them. Your thoughts help us to do a better job. Please comment.
Posted in: New Perspectives
