Civic Engagement and the Restoration of Community
Six
Conversations That Matter
SM
The Nature
of Powerful Questions
The conditions for achieving accountability
entail the use of powerful questions. Questions express the reality that
change, like life, is difficult and unpredictable.
It is the questions that change our life. We
all look for answers and all we get in response is more questions. This
is why questions confront in ways that statements and answers don’t. And
why questions are essential for the restoration of community.
Questions open up the conversation, answers
close it down.
Elements
of a Great Question
It is
ambiguous
It is personal
It evokes anxiety and accountability
The questions themselves are an art form worthy of a
lifetime of study. They are what transform the hour.
The
Setup of Questions
Each time a small group takes up a question,
set it up by explaining why the question is important and then telling
people not to be helpful. Trying to be helpful and giving advice are
really ways to control others. Advice is a conversation stopper. We want
to substitute curiosity for advice or a call to action. Urge
participants to ask others “why does that mean so much to you?” If we
quickly move to action, then tomorrow will be just like yesterday.
Certain
questions require a greater level of trust. Begin with less demanding
questions and end with the more difficult ones. Same with the
conversations -- ownership and commitment are high risk and require
higher trust to have meaning.
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