How do I ask a good question?

A good question is succinct and clear, and elicits a powerful response from the interviewee. It is thoughtful, humble, and original. As one of the student leaders for View From the Top, I frequently ruminate on what makes a good question.

I’ve been fortunate to interview Hamdi Ulukaya, Jessica Alba, and Anne Wojcicki. I learned from fellow student leaders, our advisor Liz Walker, and Professors Kramon, Abrahams, and Siegel. For two years at the GSB, I’ve heard good, but also bad questions, and even stupid questions. A stupid question is irrelevant to most, too long, multi-part, confusing, or self-congratulatory. A stupid question makes the audience space out, or elicits an eye roll.

So, how to ask a good question? It is undoubtedly one of the most important concepts to learn. Here are my top eight tips.

1. Write out your question. Then, proceed to remove at least one sentence from the question and one filler word from each sentence. Most questions are twice as long as they should be. Write it out, but then ask the question ad hoc, or else you will sound like a robot. Once you write it down, the core of the question is already in your head, you don’t need the crutch of the paper.
2. Get to the point. Please don’t start with “um.” Be confident and start with a real word! If someone has already said “thank you for being here,” don’t repeat the compliment unless there’s a nuance to add.
3. Don’t tell the speaker something they already know. For example, replace “In 2014, you made the decision to join Twitter after graduating from the GSB. What attracted you to Twitter?” with “What made Twitter the right move after graduating from the GSB?” There is a way to still make sure the audience knows the context, without sounding preachy to the person who lived their own life.
4. Stand in the uniqueness of your question. “To dovetail off what Will said”… “Building off what Julie mentioned” … “I totally agree with Preeya…” Remove these connections to others. Make your own question. If you feel like it is awkward to not give someone credit when you speak, it likely isn’t deserving of a new question or comment.
5. Ask a question out of curiosity. It is obvious to people when you are asking a question to show off your knowledge of a topic. Instead, humbly ask an expert or leader a question to learn something new, something that requires that speaker’s unique perspective. Don’t use acronyms or complicated technical language even if the speaker would easily understand them. The audience likely doesn’t. Either way, it is unnecessary.
6. Ask one question at a time. If you catch yourself saying “I have a two-part question,” just stop yourself right there. It is confusing to the speaker and takes time away from other questions from your peers.
7. Take a breath. Especially if you are on stage or using a microphone, take a deep breath before you start speaking. If you don’t, you might sound breathy as you run out of air due to adrenaline. This breath will also help you slow down your speed. This breath is particularly relevant for giving personal speeches like TALK. This is a big moment, take a moment to ground yourself in the importance of what you are about to say.
8. [Optional] Introduce yourself and show why you are asking the question. This advice doesn’t always apply, but it does with a large audience or in a public setting. Keep the introduction short. It could be as simple as your name. Perhaps, it is a personal connection, such as “I also went to Duke” or “I am doing an independent study on AI.” In a classroom setting, this can often seem braggadocious, so use your best instinct on whether the information is self-flattery or building a useful connection with the speaker.

My favorite moments of View From the Top were when the interviewee authentically expressed excitement to answer the question and when ears perked in the audience. Asking good questions is one of the most important skills whether you are on stage, in a meeting, or on a date. With my imminent graduation from the GSB, I know asking good questions will be my ticket to lifelong learning.