How to Ask Questions

Or… How Not to Provide Outside Assistance

• Coaches need to be aware that the WAY a question is asked may limit the creativity of the answers. Here are some general, all-purpose questions you can use with your team(s):
• Do you think any other team would think of this?
• Can you think of a more creative way to do this?
• What other materials could be used to (create this effect, to make this move, to make it lighter in weight, to make it funnier, etc.)?
• What kinds of things do we need to find out in order to do this?
• How else could you…?
• Why did this happen?
• Where could you find out?
• Is this your best…?
• Does this meet the standard?
• Is this job done?
• What do we mean by style?
• What should be done?
• When should it be done?
• Who should do it?
• Can this be tested?
• Can we combine ideas?
• Why is it necessary?
• How else could this be arranged?
• What should come next?
• What makes sense? What makes nonsense?
• What could be said? What could be left unsaid?
• Have you considered where the points are?
• What are the pros of your solution? What are the cons?
• Are you satisfied with your idea/work/solution/performance?
• Do you feel like you are “in the box” or “out of the box”?
• If you were judging this problem how would you score your solution?
• Are you respectful of your team members’ ideas?
• What do you think each of your team members strengths are?
• Are your team members’ strengths being utilized?
• If you were coaching this team how would you handle this conflict?
• If you were coaching this team where would you take the team to have a fun afternoon off?
• Can you think of a good field trip that would relate to your problem?
• Will it fit through a door?
• How many people will it take to move it?
• How will you get “it” to competition? If we only have a car, will it fit in a car? a van? will we need a truck? a trailer?
• Can you check out the survivability of the prop?
• Will it fit in a van (or whatever is being used to transport props/backgrounds to competition)?

Style:

• What would you like to use for your free choice elements?
• Why are these elements special?
• What are you most proud of? Why?
• What is the neatest part of your solution?
• What makes your performance really shine?
• Good questioning can really help elevate your team’s solution and enjoyment of creative problem solving, without introducing outside assistance.