Two footed questions drive curiosity and they can convert even ordinary minds, into expert problem solvers. The idea is to engage both sides of the brain, to increase innovation.
Would you agree that most people tend to ask questions with predictable answers? Boring to boot!
Add a second foot to your question and watch how it suddenly draws people into action. You splash brilliant new colors, onto a canvass so that both sides of human brains leap into life.
Want more genius opportunities?Expect dynamic and surprising responses with two footed questions. Challenge intellect and emotions, as they interweave within the human brain – to rock science and arts into action.
By triggering curiosity, two-webbed-queries also stoke motivation. Set the stage for problem-solving, invite ambiguity and elicit discovery, by adding that second foot, illustrated below.
One Foot asks: What are the main functions of brainpowered tools? – which invites content to consider or analyze. The answers to one footed questions provide facts to engage, but fails to engage the person or apply innovations. This question type tends to drive most learning environments – including higher education. Would you agree that’s why significant change rarely occurs from typical lessons learned.
Foot Two might add: … and how will these tools jumpstart active participation for your next meeting? With the second foot (or right brain extension) this question transforms brainpower. How so? One foot relates to accurate content – and the other foot motivates novel actions that result from learning facts or concepts. It’s quite straightforward, and yet it requires deliberate designing to draw from both sides of the brain.
To design two footed questions, ask:
- Does the question lead to investigation and original applications?
- Will challenges lead to novel actions that can be evidenced?
- Will responses integrate arts and sciences, much as inventors do?
- Will respondents find good motivation to sustain related investigations?
- Did the question motivate personal involvement to answer?
- Will respondents care enough to invest curiosity and enthusiasm?
- What evidence is there that responses will include opposing views?
- Will the query lead to further reflections, such as “where to from here?”
- Was there opportunity to play with, What if possibilities?
Typical two footed questions that engage Mita clients:
- How do you tame your amygdala to build goodwill with those who disagree?
- What key in Bach-y-Rita’s story could unlock new riches in yours?
- What really goes on in the mind of top dreamers and in your brain?
- How could an organization achieve diversity that engages your wider talents?
- What would pony up genius from your brainpower?
- How does your brain refuel for finer innovation?
- How could you benefit from the innovative power of laughter?
- How would you begin to rewire brainpower for ethics, and why so?
- How does your brain’s chemical and electrical circuitry wire you for winning?
- Why run from lectures when most people cling to these teaching tools?
- What are the most common traps that sink innovation where you work?
- What could you accomplish if you shifted from mentor to mindguide?
- What’s critical about your thinking as it impacts innovation?
- How do you use different tone to suit difficult situations?
How would you answer the two footed challenge: Do your questions compel others to answer?Great questions, for instance create simplicity out of complexity, and draw participants into dynamic innovations with mind-bending outcomes. What was that you just asked?
Dr. Ellen Weber
Article written by, Dr. Ellen Weber – recognized globally for brain-compatible communicating, learning and assessment renewal, lecturer, TV and radio guest, author of books by major publisher, chief academic officer with PBS renewal series, award winning blog and ranked highly influential on social media elite list in Rochester, NY.
Ellen developed and enhanced the MITA method through work with faculty and business leaders in the High Arctic, Ireland, Canada, Caribbean, U.S., UK, Chile and Mexico.
MITA’s leadership approach facilitates brain based strategies to raise motivation and achievement for innovative growth. Leaders and learners use parts of the brain never before used, to achieve innovation never before achieved.
