Vague questions get vague answers. Sharpen the question and watch the answer sharpen too.

LEADERSHIP

WHAT THIS MEANS

The quality of an answer is capped by the precision of the question, whether you are asking a person, a search box or yourself. Vague in, vague out, because the responder has to guess what you actually want. Most of the work in getting a good answer happens before anyone answers.

Before you ask, spend sixty seconds narrowing. Name the specific situation, what you have already tried, and what a useful answer would let you do. The sharpening sometimes solves it outright, which is a good sign rather than wasted effort.

A QUESTION TO SIT WITH

What have you asked for so vaguely that nobody could help?

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