The Art of Inquiry Protocol
by Carole Robin • Co-founder at Leaders in Tech & Former Stanford GSB Professor at Leaders in Tech
Carole Robin taught the legendary 'Interpersonal Dynamics' (known as 'Touchy Feely') course at Stanford GSB for over 20 years. She is the co-author of 'Connect' and now runs Leaders in Tech, helping high-growth tech leaders build robust relationships and effective cultures.
🎙️ Episode Context
Carole Robin dismantles the myth that 'soft skills' are secondary in business, arguing that interpersonal competence is the primary driver of professional success. She provides a masterclass on giving feedback without causing defensiveness, the strategic use of vulnerability, and how to navigate the 'three realities' of human interaction. The episode offers a rigorous toolkit for product leaders to move relationships from transactional to exceptional.
Problem It Solves
Addresses the issue of asking leading questions or 'gotcha' questions that shut down dialogue and prevent uncovering the root cause of a problem.
Framework Overview
A questioning technique designed to suspend judgment and elicit genuine information. It shifts the goal from confirming a hypothesis to a true 'quest' for understanding.
🧠 Framework Structure
Suspend Judgment: You cannot be curio...
Ban the word 'Why': 'Why' questions t...
Utilize the Reporter's Questions: Sta...
Focus on Specifics: Ask 'Where is thi...
Listen for the Answer: Do not formula...
When to Use
During user interviews, debugging team process failures, or navigating disagreements on product strategy.
Common Mistakes
Asking binary Yes/No questions or disguising advice as a question (e.g., 'Don't you think you should...?').
Real World Example
Instead of asking a spouse/colleague 'Why are you upset?', which leads to denial ('I'm not upset!'), ask 'What is going on for you right now?'
Questions that start with what, when, where, how. Stay away from why.
— Carole Robin