Thinking: Good Questions vs Good Answers?

My view is that many of us do not think properly. What do I mean?

Before we delve into the details, we should clarify what we mean by thinking properly. To do that, let's have our own definition of thinking. And let's also define what we mean by thinking properly in this context.
i. Here we define thinking as a process to Develop an Answer a Question.
ii. Thinking properly means putting the effort to arrive at real answers to the right questions.

I have to emphasize here that I have little disagreements with most of the answers people have. I have a a disagreement with a more fundamental part of thinking, at the source - the question.
Often, in our hurry, we address an issue very quickly for we want to have the answer in order to act. If we dont have the answer immediately, then we are helpless and a sitting duck, and we are accused of being lazy, burying our heads in the sand, slow-witted, ignoring the problem, etc. In some specific cases, these may be true of really indecisive individuals, but most of us are not like that.

We value decisiveness, we value quick action. All our heroes in the movies think on their feet, and react immediately to any form of challenge or danger. So we try to emulate the idols on the silverscreen (or the plasma/LCD screen nowadays). So we decide and act quickly. No time to waste, let's move.

If all these fast decisions, quick actions have been so effective, then we should have lesser and lesser challenges and problems in families, companies, relationships, countries, etc. But we have more than ever. In fact, there are so much "problems", that we value problem solving skills as much as we value basic mathematical abilities.

And thus we have forgotten and lost the art of think properly and deliberately. If it is lost, perhaps we should elaborate on what it is that is lost. Let's start at the beginning. In order to develop an answer to a question, we must have a question.

Oil price hike
Let's take an example. When oil prices went up (Aug 07 - Jul 08), most of the car drivers thought, how to I use less petrol, how do I make more money to pay for the higher prices? Perhaps the more relevant question then should have been, are there alternative ways that I can do what I want to do? Do you even have to travel?


Ask for an increment
Let's take another example of someone asking for an increment. He is making 3000 now and wants a 500 increment. So Employee goes to Boss and ask, a) "I've been working here for x years and been performing very well, etc, etc. Can I have a raise?"b) "I am paid 3000 now. I'll like to be paid 3500. What do I have to do to justify you paying me 3500?"

What is the right question here? in a, he asked for exactly what he thought he wanted. But that is not really what he wanted to ask. His real question was, What has to be done to so that the Boss wants to pay me more? And b, addresses this properly.

In both cases, if you deserve the increment, you will get it, maybe a little bit faster in a, and a month later for b. If (in the perception of the Boss) you dont deserve an increment yet, then the difference between the 2 questions is glaring.

In a, you ask only after you (perceive yourself of having) performed beyond expectations. In b, you can ask almost anytime. In a, the Boss becomes defensive. In b, the Boss becomes constructive. In a, if rejected, you can't ask again until at least a few months later. In b, you can ask about your progress after 1 month.

Which one will you use the next time you ask for a raise?

New Job
One more example, "Should I take take on this new job?"

Perhaps the question is, "Because work will constitute a large portion of my life, what kind of work do I want to take on?"

My life and the way I live is important to me. Work is only a part of that, and therefore my work should be inline with the rest of my life. Without defining my life's goals, then how do I know if I am going in that direction? So let's bring it to a even higher perspective, "What do I want my life to be?"

The Question or The Answer
So before you answer an important question the next time, think carefully about the question. What is the right question? Answering the wrong question is often worse than getting the wrong answer to the right question.

It is easier to correct the wrong answer, because the question is already correct. With the wrong question, you may continue answering correctly, and yet not achieve the objectives.

Last question for you, "Why am I reading this guy's blog?"
Perhaps we should also ask, what are my objectives for reading blogs? Entertainment?
Looking for people who share the same views?
Looking for new perspectives? Learning? or just surfing to kill time?

Are you achieving your objectives so far?