Written by: Vickie Sullivan | September 01, 2020
2 Ways Powerful Questions Get People to Take Notice
Heads up: Controversial political example ahead. Mary Trump’s book Too Much and Never Enough asks a very powerful question that makes it stand out from other books about her uncle Donald J. Trump: What is wrong with everyone around him? We can take a page from her playbook.
Slate’s review of Ms. Trump’s book effectively explains the strategy she used. She shifts the focus away from Mr. Trump and toward the environment that allows him to succeed. In doing so, not only does she tell a more powerful story, but her book also stands out among the other analytical and behind-the-scenes narratives.
Powerful Questions Do These 2 Things
Can we ask killer questions, too? You betcha. Here are two things all great questions have in common:
• They poke the elephant in the room. Provocative questions “go there.” They ask what everyone else thinks but is afraid to say out loud. The key: The issue addressed has high interest and high speculation. Your next best step: Are there things in your arena that don’t make sense – things that people speculate about? Explore those, and watch folks take notice.
Listen: Two Places to Find the Best Questions
• They shift the focus. If Ms. Trump criticized her uncle’s behavior, the book would not be that fascinating. Why? Because everyone else is doing that; she would just be part of the chorus. Instead, she shifted the focus away from him and asked, “Why does he do this/get away with this?” By shifting to a wide-angle view of the environment around him, Ms. Trump showcases her clinical psychology background. Your next best step: Look around and see what’s already covered. Then focus on what’s not being explored.
Many of us use questions as headlines in our website copy. Fair enough. But this strategy is broader. The former puts the person in the scene. Ms. Trump’s strategy as shown in this example makes us lean in to learn more. Big difference.
Now Read This:
- How to Stand Out: Answer the Now What Questions
- Your Position of Power: Packaging Your Expertise for High-Fee Markets