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The Art of Asking Questions in Product
Asking questions is a crucial aspect of product management. Whether you’re conducting research, leading a team, or trying to uncover a situation or problem, the right questions can help you gather the information you need and form a clear hypothesis.
But asking questions often leads to a bit of paralysis. There are so many different ways of asking questions, each with its own purpose. In product, we often talk about “the right questions, at the right time” — but what does that even mean? Just the pressure of trying to figure that out can send one into a spin and freeze our minds into not even being able to formulate a sentence.
Let’s take a look at the art of asking questions, and how to guide your team (and research!) to empower themselves through empathy.
What and Why
One of the most common forms of asking questions is the short burst of “what” and “why”. This type of questioning is quick and to the point, and is often used to gather information or clarify a particular aspect of a situation.
Some of my two favorite questions are “what problem are you trying to solve?” and “why?” (they’ve gotten me into some interesting situations, like becoming a product manager!)
These types of questions can be especially useful when you’re trying to get a clear understanding of a situation or problem. But while they often seem like the right questions to ask, when it comes to building products, it’s important to remember that asking questions is there to help you uncover a situation or problem, not just to set up a line of questioning.
By taking the time to understand a problem, you’ll be better equipped to find the root cause and develop a solution that addresses it effectively. To do this, it’s important to be patient, listen actively, and ask open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share their thoughts and experiences.
While I love asking “what” and “why”, they can often be received harshly. People won’t necessarily know why. They just know there’s a situation that’s frustrating, and they lock themselves into a cycle they can’t get out of — and they come to you for help.
