Why this Matters:
Curiosity is often the first signal something important is happening beneath the surface.
When leaders slow down to name their recurring questions, they resist the urge to jump straight to solutions — and instead focus on understanding the right version of the problem.
Inquiry-driven leadership is a well-established adult learning practice. Generating and prioritizing authentic questions supports reflective practice, shared sense-making, and more intentional decision-making — especially when time and attention are limited.
Asking the Right Questions
Before collecting data or launching new initiatives, refer back to Jasmine’s post earlier this week (did you write your questions down in your planner?)
“What questions am I genuinely curious about right now?”
Not questions you should be asking, but the ones that keep nudging at your attention.
Try This
- Write down (or revisit) two questions you’re genuinely curious about in your building.
- Investigate this article with a snippet from Powerful Inquiry and Leading with Questions: How Leaders Find the Right Solutions by Knowing What to...
- Generate five guiding questions that you will ask of others (with or without AI support) related to your challenge.
- Sort the questions into one of these categories:
- To Learn
- To Focus on What Matters
- To Empower
- To Build Personal Accountability for Actions
- Identify the top two questions to explore first.
Optional AI Boost
You can use an AI tool to support this process, particularly if your questions don’t seem to be easily categorizable.
Copy, paste, and or edit the following into an AI tool of your choice:
“I’m a school leader looking to improve my inquiry-driven leadership practice. Generate five guiding questions related to the following questions [insert your two questions here], rephrase and categorize them as questions to learn, questions to focus on what matters, questions to empower, questions to build personal accountability for actions.”
Use AI as a thinking partner, not a decision maker. Is it able to categorize and rephrase questions with accuracy and relevancy and without bias? Is it better to use for organizational purposes and revising drafts that you create yourself?
Share
Reflect on this activity, your output, and lingering questions then share with the community in the comments below.
Further Reading:
4 Ways School Leaders Can Ask Better Questions of Their Staff
