logo
episode-header-image
May 2018
22m 6s

Ask Better Questions

Harvard Business Review
About this episode
Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, professors at Harvard Business School, say people in business can be more successful by asking more and better questions. They talk through what makes for a great question, whether you’re looking to get information or get someone to like you. They’re the coauthors of the article, “The Surprising Power of Questions,” in ... Show More
Up next
Jan 2020
How to Capture All the Advantages of Open Innovation
23m 57s
Jan 2020
Revisiting “Jobs To Be Done” with Clayton Christensen
25m 46s
Jul 21
Why Great Leaders Need More Than Good Judgment
What if the key to success in today's business world wasn't about making difficult decisions quickly—but about broadening the scope through which you make decisions? Leaders Alliance CEO Cornelia Choe and executive coach Marshall Goldsmith argue that being open to more perspectiv ... Show More
28m 46s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2025
The Types of Questions Every Leader Should Ask
Leslie K. John and Alison Wood Brooks, professors at Harvard Business School, say people in business can be more successful by asking more and better questions. They talk through what makes for a great question, whether you’re looking to get information or get someone to like you ... Show More
22m 14s
Apr 2025
How to Ask Good Questions
Asking the right questions is at the heart of great business analysis—and in this episode, we’re taking a look at what makes a good question. Host Susan Moore is joined by Jamie Champagne, LinkedIn Learning instructor, author and speaker, as they explore how thoughtful questionin ... Show More
54m 7s
Jun 2021
#216 How to ask better questions
Asking great questions is an invaluable career skill. It helps to accelerate your learning and build better relationships, but it's not always easy. This week Helen and Sarah talk about the skill of asking questions. They explore different techniques and approaches and reflect on ... Show More
28m 30s
May 2025
The Best Leaders Ask the Right Questions
Few leaders have been trained to ask great questions. That might explain why they tend to be good at certain kinds of questions, and less effective at other kinds. Unfortunately, that hurts their ability to pursue strategic priorities. Arnaud Chevallier, strategy professor at IMD ... Show More
27m 43s
Jan 2019
Hard Conversations
Are you dreading a work discussion? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Leslie John, a professor at Harvard Business School. They talk through what to do when you need to set your boss straight, meet with a direct report who wanted your new job, or hash things o ... Show More
32m 29s
Feb 2018
First-time Bosses
What should you do when you become the boss? Co-hosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, an expert on behavioral insights. They talk through what to do when your direct reports are older than yo ... Show More
36m 14s
Jan 2020
Internal Networks
Do you wish you were more plugged-in at your organization? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Robin Abrahams, a research associate at Harvard Business School. They talk through what to do when you want to network at a company retreat, your manager is bothered b ... Show More
32m 57s
Feb 2023
640: The 5 Questions Top Biz Leaders Are Asking Themselves and Each Other
Want to have a powerful life-changing conversation with questions to bring out deep meaningful answers? These five questions are the basis of the powerful life-changing conversations I was part of at a mastermind early in 2023. Asking these questions of yourself and your peers is ... Show More
42m 45s
Mar 2021
29. Question Everything: Why Curiosity Is Communication’s Secret Weapon
<p>The information you receive is only as strong as the questions you ask. In this episode of <a href="https://www.fastersmarter.io/"><em>Think Fast, Talk Smart</em></a>, Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturers Matt Abrahams and <a href="https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests ... Show More
23m 25s
May 2022
Turning a Problem into an Opportunity
As a business leader, how do you think about a recession, and what’s your approach? Hint: It’s not the strongest that will survive, but the ones who respond best to change. Kipp and Kieran give tangible advice on what will make or break your business in the next 24 months, compan ... Show More
20m 53s