How to Listen So People Can Think

Incisive Questions

The key block to high-quality independent thinking is an untrue limiting assumption lived as true.

It can be removed through an Incisive Question: a question which includes a true liberating assumption and the goal.
This frees the mind to think afresh.
Just beneath an untrue limiting assumption lies a wellspring of good ideas.


 — TimeToThink.com
addressing limiting assumptions

Building an Incisive Question

When you get stuck ask:
- What am I assuming that stops me from (or ‘that makes me…’)
- What am I assuming that is most stopping me from (or ‘that
makes me …’)
- Do I think it’s true ? What are my reasons for thinking that it’s
true (or untrue) ?
- What can I assume instead, which is true and liberating ?
- If I knew [what is true and liberating] how would I [reach my
goal] ?

The same sequence of questions apply when a group is stuck.

These questions can be posed to yourself and to a group when it is stuck.
Interrelated components 

Incisive Questions

Each component of a Thinking Environment can impact the presence of other components.
For example, Incisive Questions can liberate thinkers to participate on equal terms and to be regarded as equal thinkers.
Attention, Equality, Appreciation and Place are implicit Incisive Questions, because they are all saying to the thinker: 'You can think'.
 
Opening up

More resources

'How to Listen so People Can Think', pp. 105-114.

When offered to other individuals thinking for themselves on personal issues, Incisive Questions can be delivered with the precision of laser surgery. More information in Nancy Kline's 'The Promise That Changes Everything', pp. 169-207.

Spot the missing component

To create a full Thinking Environment, all components need to be present. When the Thinking Environment is not what it should be, here are things to look out for when it comes to Incisive Questions.

  • Does the thinking seem to be stuck, as though walking through thick mud? 

  • Does the question 'What more do you think, or feel, or want to say' not give rise to fresh thinking?


To liberate new ideas, see the sequence of questions above, 'Building and Incisive Question'.