Excerpt from Intentional Event Design, Our Professional Opportunity
The Importance of Questions
“This cannot be overstated. Great design requires great understanding. This requires moving past assumptions and working from a place of true knowledge. Don’t just ask the obvious questions – demographic and psychographic information as examples of this.
Ask “beautiful questions” – those with no obvious answer. Example: Ask what the return on investment (ROI) of great event design is? There is no one, clear answer but it does give us pause to consider what this may be. Don’t let fear of appearing to not know something get in your way! We often don’t want to appear unknowledgeable by asking these types of questions, but be curious, it will lead you to answers that you use to differentiate your events.
We are stopped by fear of appearing to not be the “expert” if we ask questions.
We can only become experts by asking questions.
What’s YOUR Wild Idea?. Working towards my MSc in Creativity and Change Leadership (SUNY Buffalo State) I am constantly reminded at the power of questions, especially when asked in an environment where you are truly seeking to understand or to generate new ideas. When we facilitate change, using a question format allows us to clarify first what the problem is we are trying to solve, and then to open up new thinking. A great facilitation uses a multi-step process of pulling through divergent ideas, and converging to get to the brightest, most viable solutions. It uses questione because they open us up vs. shutting us down, allowing space for ideas to flourish. This is helpful for all those who may be around the table to gain greater understanding of the true challenges we face and the many ways to overcome these.
Question or Gauntlet? We have also probably faced a time when a direct question feels like a gauntlet thrown vs a curious inquiry. When you have moved down a path a certain way and then are called to explain why you are doing what you are doing, there is the possibility these questions have made you feel uncomfortable, negatively challenged, or it feels that the questions are being asked with someone else’s agenda in mind. When this happens it can be helpful to de-personalize the ask and work from a place of questioning to seek clarity, defer judgement, and open everyone up to asking the questions that will have your stakholders sharing your purpose and moving in one direction. Ues questions to bring forward the wild and unusual ideas.
Using an event (live or virtual) is a powerful way to support objectives, and designing the experience means knowing who you are designing for and why. What is amazing about event design is there is not just one way to achieve objectives, so question everything, clarify objectives, consider the many ways you can achieve them, then set your plan. And more than ever, be prepared to adapt and meet safely!