🚀This One Skill will Propel your Career: 'Quantum Questioning'

Welcome to Career Catalyst, your monthly dose of practical strategies and tips for career advancement – minus the overwhelm.

You might not necessarily be the most technically proficient, nor the most experienced, but there’s one simple skill, worth mastering– and it can propel your career.

It’s what we like to call: "Quantum Questioning.”

My entrepreneurial husband Faysal Sekkouah used this approach to design the world’s thinnest and most portable USB cable, despite zero experience in electronics. At first, highly skilled electronic engineers believed it was impossible to develop a cable only 2 credit cards thick that fits in a wallet. And even Apple’s lead engineers pushed back for months only to finally certify the product. Aside from relentless persistence, he attributes much of the innovative breakthroughs to Quantum Questioning.

Whether you're innovating, navigating challenges, facing significant change, or exploring new opportunities, mastering the art of Quantum Questioning to spark unconventional thinking can propel you leaps and bounds ahead.

So here’s a compilation of 4 Quantum Questions used in some high profile cases.

4 Quantum Questions

1. Embrace the "How Could That be Better?" Mindset

CASE EXAMPLE: Spanx.

Faced with personal frustration over undergarments that failed to provide a smooth silhouette under white pants, Sara Blakely asked herself, "What if there was something better? How could I create an undergarment that was comfortable, invisible, and actually did what it was supposed to do?" This wasn't just about improving an existing product, it was about reimagining what an undergarment could be and do for women everywhere. With $5,000 in savings, no experience in fashion or manufacturing, and countless rejections, Sara managed to breakthrough and created a billion dollar company. 

2. The Power of "Why Not?"

CASE EXAMPLE: The Birth of Post-it Notes.

Dr. Spencer Silver at 3M aimed to create a super-strong adhesive but ended up with a weak, repositionable one instead. Instead of discarding it as a failure, the team asked, "Why not find a use for this?" This perspective shift led to the invention of Post-it Notes, turning an accident into an iconic product. When faced with unexpected outcomes, ask "Why not?" to uncover hidden opportunities.

3. Harnessing "How Might We?"

CASE EXAMPLE: Airbnb's Turnaround.

When Airbnb was struggling to gain traction, its founders didn't just ask how they could increase bookings. They considered the question of, "How might we create a more trust-building and personal experience for our users?" By reimagining their platform's photography and design, they transformed user perception and catapulted Airbnb into a household name. The "How might we?" question fosters collaborative problem-solving and innovation.

4. Asking Unasked Questions

CASE EXAMPLE: The Smartphone Revolution.

Steve Jobs didn't focus on improving existing phones; he explored unasked questions like, "What if your phone could do more than make calls? What if it was also your music player, camera, and internet device?" This exploration led to the iPhone, which redefined what a phone could be and do. Dive into the unknown by asking questions that no one else is asking.

Take Action:

Transform your next challenge into an opportunity:

1. Seek the Unconventional: Stuck on a mediocre project solutions? Look beyond the obvious and comfortable. Challenge assumptions with "How could this be better?"

2. Find a Use for the Unexpected: Encountered a product feature that didn’t work as intended? Asking "Why not find a use for this?" can unlock potential in what might first appear as failure or waste.

3. Embrace Curiosity: Team productivity dwindling? Let "How might we?" guide you to explore new methods of working together or solving problems.

4. Dive into the Unasked: Market research feels like it's hitting a dead end? Dare to ask the questions others overlook: "What if we were to...?" That's where breakthroughs lie.

Quantum Questioning is more than just finding answers. It's really about discovering new territories of thought, innovation, and action. When you embrace new and clever ways of asking questions, you're no longer simply solve problems– you're setting the stage for breakthroughs that redefine what's possible.

What's your favourite question to ask? Let me know in the comments!

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Learn more about each example:

1. 'Think Like a Billionaire: Don't Seek Validation from Others': https://bigthink.com/the-present/sara-blakely-spanx-how-to-think-like-a-billionaire/

2. 'How a Failed Experiment Led to One of the Best-Selling Products of All Time': https://www.inc.com/graham-winfrey/the-genius-design-elements-that-made-post-its-a-runaway-success.html

3. 'Airbnb Builds Trust With These 3 Radical Design Choices, Forbes': https://www.forbes.com/sites/theodorecasey/2017/07/17/airbnb-builds-trust-with-these-3-radical-design-choices/?sh=30e99fcc27b4

4. 'Steve Jobs introduces the iPhone' Presentation from MacWorld 2007 (a recommended watch!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN4U5FqrOdQ