Asking “Who”
Understanding the Who Question Generator for Introspection
Who questions are a great place to start whenever you are trying to take a deeper dive into your cognitive process. The reason, people are often the trigger, or influence, into why we didn’t stick to our truths. In our hearts, we know what is correct, but often it is our environment that changes the typical results for what we want to achieve. Please note, this influence can be both, constructive and destructive.
From personal experience, I would say influence from others often lead to better results. Just think about your running buddy, your climber partner, or your co-worker. In most situations, the aid of another will help you make a sound decision. There is a quote from Kurt Huhn that goes something like, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Stay positive, work together, and also remember introspection is about discovering YOUR cognitive process. These actions are YOUR actions!
Who are the players in a “Who” question?
A "who" question is all about taking note of who you are with during the time at which you made a reaction. This reaction could have been positive or negative, but make sure to take note of who surrounds you. List out everyone, even if they a person didn’t seem to have any influence what so ever.
Where do “Who” questions live?
Who questions are a simple observation of your surrounding or future. When it comes to reflection, take note of the people in the room. I like to ask “who” upfront because I know that there are a few people, like my family and closest friends, that I rely on to be an audit for my ideas. So, I often ask "who" questions quite often when selecting a person to bounce ideas. When looking at the past or towards the future, "who" questions are great for seeking support!
When to use a “Who” question?
Who questions are for the past or the future, but often asked during reflection. If you are setting goals, this is a great time to ask yourself, “who would be a good person for me to talk with/meet?” Meanwhile, if you are reflecting, a who question is a great time to ask, “Who has helped me grow in the last three months?”
What role does a “Who” question play?
A "who" question brings awareness to the situation at which you were in. Think of a who question as an auditor, selector, or identifier. When asking yourself who during reflection, often this is to identify who was around during a spike in your emotions. For example, if you had a fresh, bad breakup and you are at a party, then your ex walks in with a new date, you probably felt something! Maybe, later on, that night you did something you weren’t happy about. Maybe it was because you saw your ex and your heart was hurting, maybe it was something else, maybe it was both. Sorting this example out would be a great discovery of your emotional process.
Now, maybe you are trying to do have your portfolio reviewed but want somebody to look it over before submitting it. Does selecting your best friend or your mentor, make the most sense?
How to use a “Who” question?
Since a "who" question is an identifier to your surroundings, you use this question to set the scene for yourself. The expression, put your name in the hat, comes to mind. When asking this question, you are putting people into the hat, so you may assess their role in your goals or reflection. Make sure to add a lot of names, then take them away as you realize they did not fit your situation.
Why ask a “Who” question?
Overtime asking “Who” surrounds you will help guide you towards the community that lifts you. As you take notes on the people around you during positive and negative experiences, you will be building a list of people that boost you up and a list of people that do the opposite. As time goes on, surround yourself with those who lift you. For those who constantly bring you down, I encourage you to talk with them and share what you have found. Be kind and supportive as you would want to be supported!
Conclusion
A who question is a starting place for introspection and goal setting because it identifies the potential influences that you can semi-control in the future. This world we live in is yours to develop. You take control of your life, oftentimes by taking control of your thoughts. With control of your thoughts, you will be able to decide where you will go. However, if you let others drive for you, then you will end up where others want you. So, be the driver of your own life.