Developmental inquiry
What is it?
Developmental inquiry is a systematic approach to asking questions that promote growth, insight, and expanded awareness in leaders. Unlike problem-solving questions, developmental inquiries aim to broaden perspective, challenge assumptions, and create new possibilities for thinking and action. This approach is foundational to transformational coaching and leadership development.
How might you develop it?
The Art of Questioning: Effective developmental inquiry moves beyond surface-level issues to explore underlying patterns, beliefs, and mental models. Questions are crafted to be open-ended, forward-focused, and generative rather than diagnostic. The approach requires deep listening, curiosity, and the ability to hold space for reflection and discovery rather than rushing to solutions.
Levels of Inquiry: Developmental questioning operates at multiple levels: behavioral (what we do), cognitive (how we think), emotional (how we feel), and systemic (how patterns connect). The most powerful inquiries often move between these levels, helping leaders see connections between their internal landscape and external actions.
Creating Conditions for Growth: Successful developmental inquiry requires psychological safety, trust, and a growth mindset. The questioner must create an environment where vulnerability is welcomed and uncertainty is viewed as a pathway to learning. Timing and pacing of questions are as important as the questions themselves.
Impact and Outcomes: When done effectively, developmental inquiry leads to increased self-awareness, broader perspective-taking, and more intentional leadership choices. Leaders develop greater capacity to hold complexity, navigate uncertainty, and see systems more clearly. This results in more nuanced decision-making and more sustainable solutions.
Practice and Application: The skill of developmental inquiry requires practice, reflection, and refinement. Practitioners must learn to notice their own assumptions, manage their desire to problem-solve, and stay present with emerging insights. Regular practice includes reviewing question patterns, reflecting on impact, and expanding one's repertoire of inquiries.
Common Challenges: Many practitioners struggle with avoiding advice-giving, managing silence, and resisting the urge to lead the conversation toward predetermined outcomes. Another challenge is maintaining the developmental focus when organizational pressure pushes toward quick solutions.
Future Evolution: As leadership becomes more complex and adaptive challenges increase, developmental inquiry becomes increasingly vital. New applications are emerging in areas like team development, organizational learning, and systemic change.
Comprehensive Reference List:
Essential Books:
"The Art of Developmental Coaching" by Alison Hodge
"Humble Inquiry" by Edgar Schein
"Questions That Work" by Andrew Finlayson
"The Coaches Guide to Developmental Psychology" by Sarah Mortimer
"Leading with Questions" by Michael Marquardt
Notable Podcasts:
"Coaching for Transformation" with Doug Silsbee
"The Team Coaching Zone" with Krister Lowe
"Coaching Real Leaders" with Muriel Wilkins
"Time to Think" with Nancy Kline