In my Friday Thoughts, I explore the power of questions, big questions, small questions, and sometimes the ones we think we already know the answers to.
This week, I want to dive into a question that might seem counterintuitive: Should we ask questions we already know the answer to? At first glance, it feels unnecessary. If we know the answer, why ask? But when we look deeper, this question reveals something powerful about the way we think, communicate, and challenge the world around us.
Sometimes, we ask the same questions not because we’re searching for a different answer, but because we need to reinforce something important. Leaders do this all the time, they do not do this to seek information, but to guide reflection, to challenge assumptions, or to encourage deeper thinking.
Parents do it too. Did you remember to bring your coat? They likely already know the answer, but they ask because they want their child to develop awareness and responsibility. In business, a great leader might ask, Are we really solving the right problem? not because they doubt the team, but because they want to ensure no critical perspective has been overlooked.
Then, there are the questions we ask not for ourselves, but for others. Sometimes, we already know how someone feels, yet we ask, Are you okay? Because the question itself creates space for them to share, to feel heard. Questions can be an invitation, not just a search for information.
And sometimes, asking a question again leads to a different answer. Because perspectives evolve, because circumstances change, because we change. The right question, even when asked again, can unlock something new.
So maybe the question isn’t should we ask what we already know, but rather when and why we should. Are we asking to reinforce clarity, to challenge assumptions, or to create connection? If so, then maybe those are exactly the questions worth asking.
As always, I invite you to reflect on this. Think about the questions you ask, and the ones you hesitate to repeat. Maybe, just maybe, there’s value in asking them again.
