{"id":11702,"date":"2017-04-25T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2017-04-25T08:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/?p=11702"},"modified":"2022-07-26T17:13:56","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T15:13:56","slug":"ask-questions-to-become-more-creative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hatrabbits.com\/en\/ask-questions-to-become-more-creative\/","title":{"rendered":"How asking questions can help you to become more creative"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1658848430920{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The moment a question pops up, our brain will get to work instantly. Human beings are hard-wired to generate answers and to dig\u00a0for possible solutions. That’s why asking questions is such a powerful tool and an essential skill for every creative problem solver. Learn to ask better questions and you will get better ideas…<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Turn challenges into opportunities<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We all regularly encounter things or situations we\u2019d rather get rid of. A colleague who complains too much, old-fashioned regulations, disappointing sales results\u2026 you name it.<\/p>\n

In these moments it can be comforting to realise\u00a0that you can do something about almost anything. While there are a lot of things that are out of your control, you are always free to choose how you respond to an \u2018unwanted\u2019 situation you\u2019re confronted with.<\/p>\n

Asking \u2018How can we\u2026?\u2019 questions is a great approach for quick and dirty problemsolving<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0By formulating your \u2018unwanted situation\u2019 into a \u2018constructive challenge\u2019 (while keeping your desired outcome in mind), you turn your little everyday frustrations into fruitful opportunities.<\/p>\n

E.g. Are you confronted with disappointing sales results? Simply ask yourself: ‘How can we sell more products?’, ‘How can we sell more products to our existing customers?’,\u00a0<\/em>‘How can we make it fun to buy our products?’, ‘How can we make it a fun experience to buy our products?’, ‘How can we make our product irresistible for new clients?’, ‘How can we\u00a0turn our clients into our ambassadors?’ or ‘How can we\u00a0use our satisfied customers to attract new customers?’<\/em><\/p>\n

2. Question your questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When you have set a challenge for yourself, it’s advisable to take a closer look at your ‘How can we..?’ question. Ask yourself: “Does this question truly cover the most important aspect of my challenge?” Or is there an even more important or urgent matter to be solved?<\/p>\n

If you’re not certain, then\u00a0the 5-Why’s technique<\/a><\/span> can help\u00a0you uncover the\u00a0root cause of your problem. Simply ask: ‘Why do I want this?’ and repeat the question with each new answer you get. After five repetitions, you should have uncovered the core of your\u00a0problem.<\/p>\n

E.g. The question\u00a0‘How can we sell more products?’ might be too broad. Perhaps the true problem lies in a specific department (‘How can we help department X sell more products?’) or in a specific range of products (‘How might we attract new customers for product X?’).<\/em><\/p>\n

3. Rephrase your questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you’re satisfied with the topic of your question, it’s time to take a closer look at your choice of words. Using another set of words might look trivial, yet it makes a significant difference in the creative process. Language<\/a><\/span> plays a major role in creative thinking. It allows us to establish original connections in our brain and helps us to discover truly original ideas.<\/p>\n

E.g. ‘How can we sell more products to our existing customers?’ can also be formulated as; ‘How can we make sure that we get more returning customers?’, ‘How can we make sure that our customers return more often?’, ‘How can we make it attractive for customers to buy more from us?’, ‘How can we make it more engaging for customers to visit us more often?’<\/em><\/p>\n

As you can see, each question shifts your attention towards something else and can lead to a different route<\/a><\/span> to tackle your challenge.<\/p>\n

4. Use your answers to define new challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Now that you have developed the perfect \u2018How can we\u2026?\u2019 question, it\u2019s time to answer it. Allow yourself to think about your challenge and generate as many ideas as possible. You probably already have some ideas, yet it doesn\u2019t harm to also use some creative thinking techniques<\/a><\/span> to multiply the number of ideas to choose from.<\/p>\n

Once you’re happy with your ideas, create a shortlist and analyse your best ideas. Look for the value behind the ideas. Turn your favourite ideas back into ‘How can we..?’ questions.
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\nE.g.\u00a0‘How can we sell more products?’ can lead to all sorts of ideas such as;<\/em><\/p>\n