09/05/2010

Asking good questions

Often we are mistaken in our belief that the most important thing is to get good answers. The question is often the actual key! It is difficult to ask good questions and not everyone can do it well. The consequence of not asking the right question can be very significant.

Several centuries ago, a curious but deadly plague appeared in a small village in Lithuania. What was curious about this disease was its grip on its victim; as soon as a person contracted it, he would go into a very deep almost deathlike coma. Most individuals would die within twenty-four hours, but occasionally a hardy soul would make it back to the full bloom of health. The problem was that since early eighteenth century medical technology was not very advanced, the unafflicted had quite a difficult time telling whether a victim was dead or alive. This didn't matter too much, though, because most of the people were, in fact, dead.

Then one day it was discovered that someone had been buried alive. This alarmed the townspeople, so they called a town meeting to decide what should be done to prevent such a situation from happening again.

"What should we do in the event we bury somebody alive?",
After much discussion, most people agreed on the following solution. They decided to put food and water in every casket next to the body. They would even put an air hole up from the casket to the earth's surface. These procedures would be expensive, but they would be more than worthwhile if they would save some people's lives.

"How can we make sure everyone we bury is dead?"
Another group came up with a second, less expensive, right answer. They proposed implanting a twelve inch long steak in every coffin lid directly over where the victim's heart would be. Then whatever doubts there were about whether the person was dead or alive would be eliminated as soon as the coffin lid was closed.

If you are not blessed with the ability to ask good questions, find someone that is -- it really can make an important difference.

Roger von Oech, Ph.D., A Whack on the Side of the Head, Warner Books, 1983, pp. 25-26.
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