The Art of Asking Questions in Product

✏️ Highlights

Asking questions is a crucial aspect of product management.

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”

Let’s take a look at the art of asking questions, and how to guide your team (and research!) to empower themselves through empathy.

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!)

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.

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.

Going beyond just ‘what’ and ‘why’ and guiding a conversation where you’re open to listening to the other person can help uncover a world of information you would’ve otherwise not been exposed to.

When it comes to interview, most people in the product world know not to ask leading questions. Don’t try to argue yourself into a response, nor should you try to “validate” by leading the interviewee to give you a particular answer.

Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had started when I ended the interview, and both myself and the user were more at ease!

Ask open-​ended questions: Encourage your team to think critically and find their own solutions by asking open-​ended questions. For example, instead of asking “What do you think the problem is?” ask “What are some potential solutions to this problem?”

Encourage active listening: When asking questions, encourage your

Encourage active listening: When asking questions, encourage your team to listen actively and consider the other person’s perspective.

Show empathy: This cannot be said enough! Empathy, empathy, empathy. Psychological safety is such a big part of being a product leader. By asking thoughtful, empathetic questions that don’t put people on the spot, but rather encourage them to challenge themselves, you’ll create a more supportive and inclusive environment

Lead by example: Be a role model for your

Lead by example: Be a role model for your team by demonstrating the power of asking questions.

Next time you ask a question, remember — practice active listening, stay calm, and tap into empathy. Not only will you be able to solve problems you may not known even existed, but you can empower others to ask thoughtful questions as well.

Asking questions is a crucial aspect of product management.

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”

Let’s take a look at the art of asking questions, and how to guide your team (and research!) to empower themselves through empathy.

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!)

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.

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.

Going beyond just ‘what’ and ‘why’ and guiding a conversation where you’re open to listening to the other person can help uncover a world of information you would’ve otherwise not been exposed to.

When it comes to interview, most people in the product world know not to ask leading questions. Don’t try to argue yourself into a response, nor should you try to “validate” by leading the interviewee to give you a particular answer.

Some of the best conversations I’ve ever had started when I ended the interview, and both myself and the user were more at ease!

Ask open-​ended questions: Encourage your team to think critically and find their own solutions by asking open-​ended questions. For example, instead of asking “What do you think the problem is?” ask “What are some potential solutions to this problem?”

Encourage active listening: When asking questions, encourage your

Encourage active listening: When asking questions, encourage your team to listen actively and consider the other person’s perspective.

Show empathy: This cannot be said enough! Empathy, empathy, empathy. Psychological safety is such a big part of being a product leader. By asking thoughtful, empathetic questions that don’t put people on the spot, but rather encourage them to challenge themselves, you’ll create a more supportive and inclusive environment

Lead by example: Be a role model for your

Lead by example: Be a role model for your team by demonstrating the power of asking questions.

Next time you ask a question, remember — practice active listening, stay calm, and tap into empathy. Not only will you be able to solve problems you may not known even existed, but you can empower others to ask thoughtful questions as well.