Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself. Be bold. When you embark for strange places, don't leave any of yourself safely on shore. Have the nerve to go into unexplored territory.
Alan AldaRead
I found I wasn't asking good enough questions because I assumed I knew something. I would box them into a corner with a badly formed question, and they didn't know how to get out of it. Now, I let them take me through it step by step, and I listen.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Asking better questions leads to deeper understanding and effective communication.
In this quote, Alan Alda reflects on the importance of asking good questions and the impact it has on conversation and learning. He emphasizes that by assuming prior knowledge, he was limiting others' responses with poorly framed questions. By changing his approach to allow others to express their thoughts more freely, he fostered better communication and understanding, demonstrating that attentive listening and open-ended questions are crucial for meaningful dialogue.
Themes
QuestionsCommunicationListeningUnderstandingLearning
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on communication skills, one might say this quote to emphasize the art of questioning.
More from Alan Alda
All quotes βBegin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.
Alan AldaRead
Laugh at yourself, but don't ever aim your doubt at yourself.
Alan AldaRead
Here's my Golden Rule for a tarnished age: Be fair with others, but keep after them until they're fair with you.
Alan AldaRead
If you know what you're looking for, that's all you'll get - what's previously known. But when you're open to what's possible, you get something new - that's creativity.
Alan AldaRead
You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself.
Alan AldaRead
Similar quotes
For pain must enter into its glorified life of memory before it can turn into compassion.
George EliotRead
Why does Samuel Butler say, 'Wise men never say what they think of women'? Wise men never say anything else apparently.
Virginia WoolfRead
A heart well prepared for adversity in bad times hopes, and in good times fears for a change in fortune.
HoraceRead
All that I have said up to now has merely been words._x000D_ When people come to see me, I have to say something._x000D_ But it is best not to speak about these matters too much._x000D_ Better to begin practice without delay. _x000D_ I am like a good friend inviting you to go somewhere._x000D_ Do not hesitate, just get going. You won't regret it.
Ajahn ChahRead
Do not die in the history of your past hurts and past experiences, but live in the now and future of your destiny.
Michelle ObamaRead
Words are the dress of thoughts; which should no more be presented in rags, tatters, and dirt than your person should.
Lord ChesterfieldRead