Critical Thinking and Asking Questions

We’re talking about critical thinking this month, and we should talk about asking questions. Yes, it’s the thing I hate to do more than anything…asking questions (dun, dun, DUN!).

To be honest, I abhor asking questions. Why? I feel like I’m stupid or annoying. When really, I require clarification and direction. Let’s unpack those feelings, explore what it would be like to pose a question or two, and how it relates to critical thinking.

Why I Don’t Question

What are some of the reasons you don’t ask more questions? I know that when I’m given a task, my first instinct is to listen to instructions and strike out on my own. Instead of asking questions for clarification, I often make assumptions and mistakes, because I didn’t ask for key information. Are you like me, and harbor fears of being thought stupid? Sometimes I feel like I’m wasting time by asking questions. What I’m here to tell you today is that the only time you’re wasting is by not asking.

When we don’t have all the information to do a task, and we make assumptions based on our own experiences, we sometimes make grave errors. By getting all the facts, we are able to make decisions based on reality, and not just on conjecture. We all make choices based on our own experiences – this is called bias. Asking questions to learn more about a situation helps us make choices based on facts and information and not just our biases.

Why I Should Question

Remember when you were four? Everything was confusing, you had no experience, and you were full of questions. When I was young, I questioned everything, and probably drove my parents crazy. And because I asked a lot of questions, I learned a lot. In our childhoods, we were dying to find out everything about everything. We questioned all of reality and its quirks on the daily. But at some point, we stopped.

Now that we have the information of the world at our fingertips, I think the fear of asking questions is worse. We try Googling the answer when we could have just asked the person in front of us for clarification. I know I have searched for information online that I could have just asked for. And the internet doesn’t always know everything. Sometimes the expert is right in front of our faces.

Asking questions also helps us gain a different perspective. Someone else involved in a given situation may have more information or a different perspective than we do. Asking questions helps us understand points of view different from our own, and gets us information that we may not already have.

Question Everything!

So how do we move out of our rut of “going it alone” and start questioning? Here are some tips I use to help me get the information I need.

• Information is power – If you don’t have all the information you need to complete a task or a project, it’s time to ask a question. Getting clarification about expectations and extra facts can help you get the job done. Instead of assuming it will waste time and resources, think of it differently. By asking the questions you need to ask, you are setting yourself up for success.
• Other people want to know – Be assured that if you don’t understand, someone else has the question, too. There no need to feel that you’ve invented “not understanding”. You haven’t. People have been misunderstanding each other since the dawn of time. If you don’t understand, someone else doesn’t either, so ask away!
• This is how we learn – How can we learn something if we don’t ask any questions? Do you know everything? I know I don’t! Buddha is rumored to have said, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” Take the opportunity to be teachable, and ask a question. Allow yourself to be taught by all manner of people and situations. You will be amazed at what you can learn.

Ask away!

I hope these strategies help you get the answers that you seek. Asking questions is an important part of critical thinking, and we all need to engage in more of it.

What are some times that you didn’t ask questions that you wish you had? How could asking questions have saved you time and resources? Share your experiences, strengths and hopes below in the comments! Until next time!

Photo Credits:

No – sboneham

Surprise – AJ Cann