Purpose and Background

When an engineer, or member of any profession or vocation, faces a challenge, he or she should understand the challenge’s technical and non-technical aspects before proceeding with a solution. Effective question-asking is the key to fully comprehending a problem. Intelligent and probing question asking -- not superficial queries -- provide the necessary broad and deep understanding.

This webinar illustrates the power of questions, identifies obstacles to question-asking, describes question-asking techniques, and provides listening advice. The webinar concludes with example questions drawn from areas such as marketing, project management, change efforts, conference attendance, and personal and organizational improvement.

Primary Discussion Topics

• Power of effective question-asking
• Problematic reluctance of engineers to ask penetrating questions and the resulting negative consequences
• Explanation of question-asking methods
• Listening advice
• Examples of effective questions applicable to marketing, project management, change initiatives, conference attendance, and personal and organizational improvement

Learning Outcomes

• Discuss five powers of questions
• Explain and deal with four obstacles to questioning
• Apply four question-asking methods
• Listen more effectively
• Use examples of questions applicable to marketing, project management, change, conference attendance, and personal and organizational improvement

Webinar Benefits

• Learn five powers of questions
• Avoid costly consequences of not asking effective questions
• Deal with four obstacles to question-asking
• Apply four question-asking methods
• Obtain example questions for various professional activities

Intended Audience

• CEOs/Executives
• Engineers, technologists, and technicians in all disciplines
• Administrative assistants and other support personnel
• Members of other professions and vocations
• Public and private sector personnel

Webinar Outline

• Powers of questions
• Why engineers are especially challenged by questioning
• Obstacles to asking questions
• Question-asking methods
• Listening to answers: facts and empathy
• Examples of marketing questions
• Examples of project management questions
• Examples of change initiative questions
• Examples of conference attendance questions
• Examples of personal and organizational improvement questions
• Costly consequences of weak questioning
• How to start now 

About Webinars