The concepts in Change Your Questions, Change Your Life are primarily derived from the principles of Question Thinking. Question Thinking is the idea that individuals have complete control over their thinking. Through the monitoring and evaluation of thinking, individuals can refocus the questions they ask in order to achieve more desirable results. Question Thinking is a tool that enables productive thoughts rather than reactive thoughts.

1. Some Impressionistic takes from the book
Marilee Adams’s
“Change your questions Change your life”
by Ramki
ramaddster@gmail.com

2. About Marilee Adams
Marilee G. Adams, Ph.D. is a founder and partner with
The Center for Inquiring Leadership
(www.centerforinquiringleadership.com).
An executive coach and corporate consultant, she has
spoken on the art of Question-Thinking and Inquiring
Leadership to such organizations as Siemens Building
Technologies, Lockheed Martin, NASA, the Society for
Human Resource Managers, the American Society of
Training and Development, and many others.
Marilee’s background includes being a psychotherapist
with over 25 years in private practice. She is the author
of The Art of the Question: A Guide to Short-Term
Question-Centered Therapy

3. Prelude
Questions are at the core of how we listen, behave, think, and relate—
as individuals and organizations. Virtually everything we think & do is
generated by questions.
Questions push us into new territories. The future itself could be said to
begin with how we think, which in turn is reflected by the questions we
ask ourselves and others. But, we must know how to ask the right
questions.
If questions are asked from the viewpoint of open-mindedness, of
trying to learn—then the resulting answers can help to produce a mind-
set that is optimistic, hopeful and full of possibilities for the future.
These are known as “Learner” questions. If, however, one asks
questions that seek to assign blame (either to the questioner or the
questioned) and are based on negative reactions (“What’s wrong with
them?”)—the resulting mind-set will then lead to failure, inflexibility,
stress and a sense of severe limitations.
These are known as “Judger” questions. How do we avoid being
Judgers and instead become Learners? ……… (Contd)

4. Prelude- Contd..
The answer lies in author Marilee G. Adams’ “Question Thinking,” a practical,
easy-to-use methodology for transforming thinking, action, and results
through intentional and skilful question asking. The Question Thinking
system is introduced and explored in Adams’ new book Change Your
Questions, Change Your Life
7 Powerful Tools for Life and Work. In the book, Adams shows readers how
to consistently choose the questions that can lead them to personal and
professional success. The techniques of Question Thinking stimulate
innovation, accelerate productivity, and create more rewarding relationships.
Readers quickly learn that Question Thinking gets results whenever it is
applied—in improving communication, team building, product development,
productivity, and ultimately in breaking through blocks in our own thinking.
Change Your Questions, Change Your Life outlines simple, powerful tools for
letting go of the entrenched attitudes that hold so many of us back. It helps
us open ourselves to fresh perspectives, new possibilities, and positive
actions. We have only to ask the right questions to begin.

5. Introduction
 Ability to shift intentionally our internal questions puts us in charge
of our thoughts. This book explains this to us
 The book is the story of Ben Knight. He finds himself challenged,
seemingly beyond his limits, in his new promotion to a highly
responsible management position. Convinced he doesn’t have
what it takes, he drafts his resignation. That’s when his CEO steps
in and gives him a second chance by introducing him to Joseph,
the inquiring coach. However, Ben’s job isn’t his only problem. His
marriage is in trouble. In this book Ben makes transformations both
at work and at home.
 The ability to think productively rather than reactively lies at the
heart of Question Thinking. It is the key to building high emotional
intelligence and making wise choices wherever we are. In this way
QT methods also help empower successful learning organizations

6. Introduction
 There are seven tools and practices that led Ben to
such remarkable results. These tools are woven
into the story and are described in a workbook at
the end of the book with clear, step-by-step
instructions.
 A world of questions is a world of possibility.
Questions open our minds, connect us to each
other, and shake outmoded paradigms.

7. The right questions can transforms our life
 Everyday, we all ask questions from
‘what should I wear?” to “what I should
do with my life ?” These kind of
questions we ask ourselves can
profoundly affect our self –esteem,
relationships, & career.
 She introduces “Question Thinking” an
easy to use system for transforming
thinking, action, and results. With new
perspectives and alternatives, we can
take powerful, practical steps to
transform our relationships and our
work.

8. Why questions matter ?
 “We cannot solve our problems with the
same thinking we used when we created
them.” - Albert Einstein
 “All innovation and new thinking—in
processes, products, services and
anything else—begin with a new
question or an old question asked in a
new way.” - Marilee Goldberg
 “Asking a question is the simplest way of
focusing thinking - Edward de Bono
 “Since we basically walk the paths in life
prescribed by our questions, it makes
sense to ask those that can take us
where we want to go.” - Marilee
Goldberg

9.  Resolve problems
 Evaluate, assess, & critique
 Set & accomplish goals
 Clarify & confirm listening
 Negotiate & resolve conflicts
 Focus attention
 Create & innovate – open new possibilities
 Catalyze productive & accountable conversation & action
 Gather information
 Build and maintain relationships
 Communicate & have conversations
 Learn , Teach & Reflect
 Think critically, creatively, & strategically
 Discover & challenge assumptions
 Make decisions & choices
Power & Purpose of questions

10. Questions, Behavior & Results

11. 7 Different Tools to Change Your Work & Life
 Putting the power of
question to work
 Choice map
 Learner-Judger Question
 Empowering your
observer
 Switching Question
 Questioning Assumption
 Top Twelve Question for
Change

12. Tool 1-Putting The Power of Question to Work
 When we get stuck, it’s natural to look for answers and solutions. But in
doing so we can unwittingly create blocks instead of openings.
 We first need to change our questions; otherwise we keep recycling the
same old, unhelpful answers.
 Putting the power of questions to work is the first tool.
 Questions drive results.
 The most effective communication is about 20 percent telling and 80
percent asking.
 Most of us have turned this around – 80 percent telling and 20 percent
asking.

13. Tool 2 -The Choice Map

14. Tool 3 -Judger- Learner Questions

15. Judger –Learner Mindsets

16. Judger –Learner Relationships

17. Tool 4-Empowering Your Observer
 Once you’re able to observe your own
thinking, and recognize the difference
between Learner and Judger, you grab
hold of the power of choice.
 The questions we form in our minds
shape our decisions , actions & lead to
any results we get.
 They put us on one of two paths, the
Learner or the Judger path, and there’s a
huge difference between them.
 Question Thinking tools like the Choice
Map and the distinctions between Learner
and Judger questions give you the ability
to recognize what kind of questions you’re
asking and where they might take you.

18. Tool 5- Switching Question
 In the middle of the Choice Map there is a road joining the Judger
and Learner Paths.
 The Switching Lane provides a powerful tool for switching from
Judger to Learner.
 Whenever you sense you might be in Judger, pause, take a deep
breath, and ask yourself, “Am I in Judger”? If your answer is yes,
you can step into the Switching Lane by asking simple questions
like: ”How else can I think about this”? And “Where would I like to
be”?
 These are Switching questions
which quickly move you to the
Learner Path.
 These are practical tools that take
advantage of how humans work.

19. Tool 6-Questioning Assumption
 You can use another tool to help make
decisions – the A-B-C-C Choice Process.
Questioning assumptions is tool 6.
 A- Aware- Am I in Judger?
 B- Breathe – Do I need to step back, pause,
and look at this situation more objectively?
 C – Curiosity – Do I have all the facts?
What’s happening here?
 C – Choose – What’s my choice?

20. Tool 7-Top Twelve Questions for Change
 What do I want?
 What are my choices?
 What assumptions am I making?
 What am I responsible for?
 How else can I think about this?
 What is the other person thinking, feeling, needing, and wanting?
 What am I missing or avoiding?
 What can I learn:
 from this person or situation?
 from this mistake or failure?
 from this success?
 What questions should I ask myself or others?
 What action steps make the most sense?
 How can I turn this into a win-win?
 What is possible?
Great Results begin with Great Questions

21. Effective question guidelines
 Effective questions are open ended
 Effective questions support learning
 Effective questions engage a personal response
 Effective questions look beyond problems to future outcomes
 Effective questions facilitate openness versus defensiveness
 Effective questions co-create best options versus
manipulating outcomes
 Ask simple questions, one at a time
 Ask a question and stay silent
 Powerful questions identify potential obstacles, support
structures and accountability
 Ask questions with curiosity, optimism and courage

22. Take-away
 Marilee Adams demonstrates the power & value of asking
questions.
 The following concepts are the foundation for asking better
questions in order to create a better future:
 Question Thinking requires individuals to monitor and
evaluate their thinking. Awareness of one’s thoughts allows
individuals to refocus the questions they ask themselves in
order to achieve the best results possible. Question Thinking
is a tool that teaches one to have productive rather than
reactive thoughts.
 The observer self shows an individual their current situation
in order to surface the skills necessary for positive change.
Question Thinking can help strengthen the observer self and
provide a strong foundation for change.

23. Take-away
 The choice map is another tool that can be used to
strengthen one’s observer self. There are two paths
on the choice map: the learner path and the judger
path. The choice map can be used to help
individuals determine where their headspace is and
make better decisions for the future.
 Switching questions enables individuals to move
from the judger path to the learner path.

24. The power to question is the
basis of all human progress.
Indira Gandhi
Happy Reading
Mail your comments – ramaddster@gmail.com