Foreword xvii
Chapter 1 Why Ask? 1
Chapter 2 Something's Not Right: Diagnostic Questions 9
What's the Problem? 10
"Miss Nosy" 12
The Mystery Patient 14
Bad News Is Good News 16
History Is News, Too 19
Challenge the Expert 21
After the Diagnosis, the Strategy 24
Chapter 3 The General's Charge: Strategic Questions 27
Set Your Sights 28
A Strategic Approach 30
A General's Command 32
Eight Yeses 35
Failure Is an Option 37
Getting Personal 40
Challenge Yourself 41
Chapter 4 From the inside Out: Empathy Questions 43
The Good Professor 46
The Empathetic Interviewer 48
Therapeutic Inquiry 56
License and Limits 60
Chapter 5 The Gentle interrogator: Bridging Questions 63
Get Them Talking 65
Solving Puzzles 68
Affirm and Acknowledge 72
Questions Without Question Marks 72
Echo Questions 74
Build the Bridge 76
Chapter 6 For the Record: Confrontational Questions 77
Care to Listen 79
Unintended Consequences 82
Demanding Answers 85
Confronting Power 88
An Audience Helps 89
No Way Out 91
Blunt Force 94
Chapter 7 Imagine This: Creativity Questions 97
Beyond the Possible 99
Travel in Time 101
Cutting Strings 102
Imagined Reality 106
Ask for Subversion 110
Chapter 8 The Solvable Problem: Mission Questions 115
Listening for Common Goals 116
The Value Proposition 118
Change the World 122
Sharing Works 124
What Brings You Here? 126
Asking to Listen 128
Solve Problems with Purpose 130
Chapter 9 Into the Unknown: Scientific Questions 133
The Doctor's Quest 135
A Mystery Killer 137
Cultures Clash 139
Test but Verify 141
Stretch Yourself 143
Slow Answers to Slow Questions 145
Chapter 10 The Edison Test: Interview Questions 149
Hunting the Best Heads 153
Look Back, Look Ahead 154
Finding Innovation 156
Be Ready for the Curveball 158
The Candid Candidate 160
Asking for the Team 163
Interview the Interviewer 164
Bright Ideas 167
Chapter 11 The Inspired Host: Entertaining Questions 169
Sec the Stage, Set the Tone 172
You're On! 177
Supper with Socrates 179
Asking for Laughs 180
A Host of Questions 181
Chaper 12 Lessons for Life: Legacy Questions 183
Seeking Context 184
Why Didn't I Ask? 185
The Rabbi 186
Facing Failure 190
In Search of Meaning 192
Asking for Life 194
Chapter 13 I'm Glad I Asked 197
The Justice of Citizenship 199
Ask to Lead 201
Poems of Humanity 202
Always Asking 203
Profane and Profound 207
Question Guide 211
Diagnostic Questions 213
Strategic Questions 216
Empathy Questions 219
Bridging Questions 221
Confrontational Questions 224
Creativity Questions 227
Mission Questions 229
Scientific Questions 231
Legacy Questions 239
Index 241
About the Author 251