At a young age, we all learned the power of questions – unknowingly, perhaps, but the seeds were planted. Who? What? Why? When? Where? And most importantly, How?
As entrepreneurs and business leaders, the questions we ask ourselves can determine where we are, where we want to go, and how we’ll get there in life, and more importantly in our startup ideas. By learning to reframe questions, you can unlock new ideas, break through barriers, and drive your business success forward.
In this article, we’ll explore how asking better, more empowering questions can help you shift your mindset, discover fresh solutions, and achieve your goals. Sound good? Let’s dive in!
Why Your Questions Matter
The questions you ask yourself every day are more important than you think. For example:
Stuck in a job you dislike? You might ask, “When will life be different?” or “How many days until the weekend?”
Trying to grow your business? You might ask, “When will I start making money?” or “Why can’t I attract more clients?”
Sound familiar? The issue with these questions is twofold: they focus on things outside your control and tend to lead to repetitive, unhelpful answers. Asking the same questions leads to the same answers, which means little or no progress.
So, how do you flip the script? It starts with learning to ask better questions.
Tip #1: Take Back Control of Your Questions To Reach Startup Ideas
To break the cycle, you need to flip your questions to put yourself in control. Instead of wondering when something will change, ask questions that empower you to take action. Here’s how it works:
Instead of: “When will life be different?”
Ask: “What can I do to bring more joy into my life?”
Instead of: “When will I start making money?”
Ask: “When can I launch my service to start earning?”
Instead of: “Why can’t I attract more customers?”
Ask: “How can I attract more customers?”
By shifting your focus to actionable questions, you empower yourself to take charge. Why does this work? Because our brains are wired to solve problems. When you ask better questions, your mind starts looking for better answers, and hopefully for better startup ideas!
Tip #2: Reframe Questions for New Startup Ideas
The second step is to change the way you ask questions entirely. If you’ve been asking “why” questions, try switching to “how” or “what” questions. Here’s an example:
Original Question: “Why am I not attracting the right clients?”
Reframed Questions:
“What can I do differently to attract the right clients?”
"How can I improve my messaging to reach the right clients?”
“Where are the clients I want to serve?”
“Who can help me attract the right clients?”
Each of these reframed questions unlocks new perspectives and actionable ideas. Instead of fixating on a single problem, you’re now exploring solutions from multiple angles.
Example: Boosting Social Media Engagement
Let’s take a real-world scenario many business owners face: “Why isn’t my audience engaging with me on social media?” This type of question often leads to negative answers like, “My content is boring,” or “The audience isn’t interested.” But what happens when we ask better questions?
Reframed Questions:
“What can I do to encourage my audience to engage?”
“How can I create content that resonates with my audience?”
“Where should I place calls to action for maximum visibility?”
“Who can I collaborate with to improve engagement?”
Suddenly, you’re exploring solutions like:
Creating content tailored to your audience’s interests.
Adding clear calls to action to prompt engagement.
Reviewing analytics to identify the best times to post.
Collaborating with influencers or partners to expand your reach.
This shift in mindset transforms a problem into an opportunity for growth.
Key Takeaway: Ask Better Questions for Better Results
We often fall into the habit of asking ourselves the same questions – especially when we’re stuck or struggling. But to move forward, you need to challenge yourself with better questions that spark new ideas.
Here’s how to get started:
Flip your questions to put yourself in control of the answers.
Reframe your questions to explore multiple perspectives.
By asking “How?” instead of “Why?” and “What can I do?” instead of “When will this change?” you’ll generate actionable ideas, take control of your progress, and move closer to your goals.
Ready to Unlock New Growth for Your Business?
At SMRT Consulting, we help entrepreneurs and startups like you ask the right questions, uncover new opportunities, and achieve sustainable growth. If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, let’s talk!
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