Image created by Google AI.
Some days call for answers.
Today calls for better questions.
The kind of questions that don’t close a conversation, but open a door.
That spark curiosity, invite reflection, and reveal unexpected insight.
When we ask better questions, we don’t just gather information — we create space for growth, connection, and new possibilities.
Instead of asking, “Did you get it done?”
What if you asked, “What did you discover along the way?”
Instead of, “Why didn’t you meet the goal?”
Try, “What support would make success easier next time?”
Better questions aren’t about judgment. They’re about expansion.
They turn conversations into collaborations.
They turn “problem-solving” into “possibility-finding.”
Today, pause before rushing into answers.
What’s one better question you could ask — of yourself, your team, or someone you love?
Because sometimes the right question is the real answer.
#Blogboost #VisionaryLeadership #ClarityInChaos #ActOnVision #LeadForward #LeadershipMindset #ActThePart #AdvantaStrategies #StrategicThinking
From Fearful to Fearless:
Every confident speaker once shook in their shoes.
How to Answer “Tricky” Questions
When you stay calm, clarify with repetition, and bridge back to your core ideas, you guide the dialogue rather than chase it. The result? You come across as thoughtful, credible, and persuasive exactly the qualities clients and colleagues remember.
How Humor Can Lighten the Room
A smile can make your design pitch twice as memorable. Humor, when done right, isn’t about being a comedian it’s about being human. A little laughter reminds everyone that design is supposed to bring joy, not stress. So the next time you walk into a presentation, bring your sense of humor along with your fabric swatches. You’ll leave behind not only a beautiful concept but also a positive impression.
Creating Connection: The overlooked power of eye contact
Eye contact is the designer’s secret to presence. It’s what transforms a presentation from mechanical to magnetic. Slides may show your ideas, but your eyes show your confidence and that’s what clients and audiences remember most.
Why Every Designer Should Practice Their Speech
In design, presentation is persuasion. When you practice speaking as much as sketching, you build trust, authority, and excitement around your ideas. A polished pitch can make the difference between a “maybe” and a “let’s do it.” Remember your voice is part of your professional toolkit. Use it well, and let it sell your vision as powerfully as your designs do.
NETWORKING …. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER
Networking is more about follow-up than first impressions.
Sound as Good as You Look
Trade shows can showcase your talent and brand but shouldn’t cost you your voice.
The Designer’s Elevator Pitch:
If you can’t explain your vision in a minute, you’ll lose the moment. In the world of design, opportunities often appear unexpectedly,a quick chat at a showroom, a brief meeting at a networking event, or a chance encounter with a potential...
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Advanta Strategies, LLC
814-360-1950
linda@advantastrategies.com
I keep seeing “better questions” for Moms of school children, because “how was your day” obviously don’t yield satisfactory answers 😉 We all might spark more fruitful conversations with the right questions. As an HR person I should know a thing or two about getting people to talk 😉
Tamara:
Thank you – yes the More specific the question with out being pushy the better the answer. But as an HR person you know.
Great post! When picking up my grandkids from school I would ask them how school was. I’d get the same answer every day… “it was terrible”. Once I changed my question to “ what did you do in gym today”, I got a perfect answer. They told me what they did. It was a much better conversation.
While this application isn’t applicable to me, I do find that asking unique questions is a fun way to get conversation going in a direction that isn’t the norm. For instance, when meeting someone new, instead of asking, “What do you do for a living?” you could ask, “tell me about something interesting you did this week in your profession.” Their answer can keep the conversation going, because they will no doubt ask you the same question!
Angie:
I had the best result when I attened yet another “networking meeting”, I asked people what their favorite dessert was. Not only did I see gaping mouths, I was remembered the next week. More importantly I was remembered a few months later. I was asked to be on a panel at our College to choose the next recipient of the business award. In searching, I found the person’s name who I had met and he was on the selection committee. Small world if you allow it with good questions. Thank you