How to ask a question

I’ve found that a lot of the questions I get asked throughout my day seem to waste a lot of time, when I’m focused on my current task someone asks me a question which distracts me, my thoughts hit a brick wall and I start to refocus on the question that is asked, it happens to everyone, but unless the question is asked with a clear purpose it usually creates nothing but frustration (for me).

I recently read a great paragraph from the Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris. This has changed the way I now expect to receive my questions, this is just a start for me to start demanding the following before you ask me.

Ensure you answer yes to the following two questions.

1. Have I decided on a single meaning for each term in this question?

2. Can an answer to this question be acted upon to improve things?

Although the above two points are generally related to existentialism they can be applied to normal life, especially that of a business. Asking these two questions of the questioner can save you a heap of time. Even better is if the questioner is aware of these two before he or she begins to ask.

However you set these questions up you have to be careful not to alienate the questioner, leave ego out of it and explain that a well structured question will get better and faster results in the long run. Most people will understand be attracted to your way of thinking, and also to the fact that you are asking them to tailor that question towards a goal.

Those that aren’t attracted to your way of thinking, well, not really your problem.