Podcast

Sean Grace

#487: How to Ask Better Questions and What Happens When You Don’t

Have you ever been in a collaborative exercise and, with all good intentions, peppered your team member with pertinent questions in hopes of finding an innovative solution?

But you got nowhere? Maybe your questions were off-putting to the person you were working with.

Maybe they even answered your questions to the best of their ability but you got the right answers to the wrong questions.

What if the first question(s) you would be asking is of yourself? Questioning your beliefs, biases, and even your neuroses that color the character of questions you ask of others.

Your answer might be Sean Grace. He is a communication consultant, coach, and speaker, with over 25 years of experience developing and training sales, marketing, and leadership talent across diverse industries.

Sean just published his new book: The Art of The Question: Better Decisions, Deeper Connections, Breakthrough Ideas.

His unique brand of business consulting is forged from his long career in media, advertising, and the creative arts.

Sean studied music performance at the Juilliard School and SUNY Purchase, and finance at Wharton.

As an award-winning musician and multi-instrumentalist, he borrows techniques from jazz improvisation to help foster creative collaboration and cooperation within and across teams.

Sean’s track record of success as a consultant and coach has earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor and trainer to some of the world’s most innovative and successful organizations.

In this conversation, Sean discusses his journey from a musician to a business consultant, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions in leadership and communication.

Sean also highlights the parallels between music and business, illustrating how creativity and inquiry can drive success in both fields.

What’s In It For You:

Why asking the right questions is crucial for effective storytelling.
The Socratic method provides a framework for evaluating questions.
Mindset plays a significant role in how we perceive and respond to challenges.
Switching from ‘why’ to ‘how’ questions can lead to more productive conversations.
How self-reflection helps us understand our biases and improve our questioning skills.
Questions can shape the narrative and direction of a conversation.
Creativity in questioning can lead to more innovative solutions.