Ask Active Questions
-An exclusive excerpt from Allen’s new book-
The most significant class of my entire college education wasn’t even part of the core curriculum. Hundreds of students were competing for just forty spaces. Somehow, definitely not due to GPA, I made it in.
A core component of the program involved having a prestigious business—from the president of American Airlines to innovative industry leaders— speak to our class each week. At the end of each talk, all forty students were required to ask a thoughtful question based on what we’d just heard. The pressure was on. Because half of our grade was based on how good the question was. Everyone quickly learned it was easier to ask the first question than the last one. By that point, the questions tended to be along the lines of, “Um, so what’s your favorite color?”
I learned that asking active questions begins with being a good listener. To be fully present means setting our phones down, making eye contact, paying attention to the speaker’s tone, and noticing the words said as well as unsaid. We must allow for moments of silence rather than rushing in when the other person pauses. If we don’t, we miss practicing the art of patience and curiosity, essential traits for creatives.
Our learning bandwidth is measured by the percentage of time we listen rather than talk. Which makes sense, because when we’re talking, we can only offer what we already think. But when we listen, we hear new ideas and see life afresh.
In a culture where everyone wants to be heard but few want to listen, practice the art of talking less and listening more. Scripture offers us this simple antidote: “It is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry” (James 1:19 TLB). When we do the opposite—speak much and listen little—it implies we become angry. Perhaps because the more self-focused we grow, the smaller our story becomes. When we’re convinced we have all the answers and are the smartest person in the room, we leave little opportunity to learn, grow, or be surprised—from God or others.
Practice the art of asking active questions. This will keep you curious about what the other person is saying rather than how you’re going to respond.
A curious person listens well and asks active questions. It’s an art worth learning.
(From The Creativity Glitch: How to Stop Being Stuck, Find Your Groove, & Create with God.Copyright © 2026 Allen Arnold.)
This reading was crafted to encourage your pursuit of story and creativity with God. Your donation makes this crowd-funded initiative possible. You can support it via PAYPAL (or by check to Allen Arnold at PO Box 62841, Colorado Springs, CO 80962).
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