By Rishabh Giri
A good question doesn’t try to prove you right. It opens a door. It makes things clearer, not narrower. You know it’s a good one when the other person pauses and says, “Hmm, I never thought about it like that.” That pause means you’ve shifted something. You’ve created space for new understanding.
Curiosity is at the Root of Asking
Somewhere along the way, adults forget how to ask. We start believing that not knowing something is shameful. School teaches us to search for the right answer, not the deeper question. But curiosity isn’t about being right, it’s about being alive. To get it back, you have to make peace with not knowing and still move forward with interest. It’s okay to explore even without a destination.
Curiosity does something logic alone can’t: it connects things that seem unrelated. It makes conversations more interesting because you stop trying to win. It makes creativity flow because you follow what truly draws your attention, not just what looks impressive. When you’re curious, originality becomes effortless because it’s driven by genuine wonder, not performance.
The Assumption Ladder
One of my favorite habits is what I call the Assumption Ladder.
Whenever you believe something, ask why you believe it. Then ask why that reason exists. Keep going a few levels down. You’ll be surprised how many of your beliefs rest on fragile ground. Most of our certainty is built on convenience, not evidence. This exercise doesn’t make you doubtful — it makes you precise.
Encouraging Curiosity in Others
Teachers and leaders can spark curiosity by appreciating questions, not just answers. In a classroom, instead of asking “Who knows the answer?” try “Why do you think this?” It changes everything. It turns learning from memorization into exploration. The same works for teams, when people feel safe to ask, they start thinking independently.
A Real Example
I once spoke with an area manager from an HVAC company who complained about his team’s low motivation. His first question was, “How do I motivate them?” Later, he shifted to “Why are they demotivated?” That one change revealed the real issue: not laziness, but unclear roles. A single better question exposed the truth.
Practicing It Daily
Even on social media, curiosity can be a quiet teacher. When something online makes you angry, don’t just react. Ask, “What emotion is this post using to get my attention?” That small question can turn mindless scrolling into mindful awareness. Over time, you’ll notice how questions are not just tools for learning — they’re mirrors that show you what kind of thinker you really are.