Wise People Ask Questions and Then Listen

In Proverbs 20:5 I read, “People’s thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.” (NCV)

If I want to be wise, learn how to ask wise questions.

Proverbs 20:5 says, “People’s thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there” (NCV). In other words, everybody has something to teach you. Just like it’s worth the effort to draw water from a deep well, it’s worth the time and attention to draw wisdom from another person.

How do I draw the wisdom out of every person? I learn to ask smart questions.

Ask questions, as they have had things to teach me. If I know the right questions to ask, I can learn from anybody!

One thing I’ve realized is that I never learn anything while I’m talking. If my mouth is moving, I’m not learning. I don’t learn when you’re talking; I learn when I’m listening. So I’ve got to learn to listen.

The late American TV host Larry King once said this: In an interview show, if the host is talking 50 percent of the time, something is terribly wrong. The host should listen the most and talk the least. A good TV host sets up the question and then just listens.

I’ve done a lot of interviews over the years, and I’ve noticed fewer and fewer hosts following Larry King’s advice. More often, interview shows are about the interviewer, whose goal is to draw attention to themselves, and not about the guests.

In life, be more like the host who has learned to listen. Become a person who believes that they can learn from anyone.

I just have to be willing to ask good questions, and then listen. That’s the mark of a wise person.

In summary, other’s thoughts can be like a deep well. Someone with understanding can find wisdom in them. So, If I want to be wise, learn how to ask wise questions. Everybody has something to teach me. Just like it’s worth the effort to draw water from a deep well, it’s worth the time and attention to draw wisdom from another person. I do this by asking smart questions. One thing is certain, I’ll never learn anything while I’m talking. I only learn when I’m listening. In TV interview shows, the host should listen the most and talk the least. More often, interview shows are about the interviewer, whose goal is to draw attention to themselves. So be more like the host who has learned to listen. Become a person who believes that they can learn from anyone. Be willing to ask good questions, and then listen. That’s the mark of a wise person.

Purpose and advice lie deep with someone's heart. If I am smart, I'll draw them out to discover them. For my prayers to be effective, I need to learn to listen. Prayer is actually a conversation. While I may not hear God's physical voice, he speaks to me through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and others. If I get too busy or talk too much, I won't really hear and understand what God and or others are telling me. To be a better listener, I need to withhold judgment and criticism. Don't evaluate until I've heard and comprehended it. This is much like one of Steven Covey's 7 habits, "Seek first to understand, then be understood". Keep calm. Overlook immaturity. Be an active listener. Ask creative questions to draw out responses. Lastly, learn to paraphrase and summarize.