Questions for enabling action
These questions for enabling action are grounded in the “What? — So What? — Now What?” process framework developed by Dorothy Strachan. This question framework provides leaders, facilitators, and groups with an easily remembered way to have a meaningful conversation that leads to action.
Details on the Method
This framework is one of five process frameworks highlighted in the book, Making Questions Work, by Dorothy Strachan, who writes:
“A process framework … is a step-by-step conceptual guide to what a facilitator does in a structured group experience. It is like a map organized around facilitation challenges. It makes the process explicit, furnishes a reference point for keeping a process on track, and supports facilitators in thinking about questions consciously.”
While Stachan focuses on the facilitator role, this kind of structured approach is valuable for anyone leading or participating in a group.
Here is a brief overview of each of the three levels of questions for enabling action. Strachan’s book provides many more examples.
What?
The “what” questions:
- Are the notice questions; they focus on what can be observed
- Ask participants to share what they think or feel about something
- Can raise awareness
Sample questions for enabling action
These questions can be used to start a person or group thinking about a discussion, presentation, report, video, or experience.
- Having read the proposal, what stood out for you?
- What are the first words or phrases that come to mind after hearing about this project/proposed changes/etc.?
- As we start this effort, what is top of mind for you about this new project?
- What in this report offered you new ways of thinking about this?
So what?
The “so what” questions:
- Are the meaning questions; they invite people to reflect
- Are clustered into three areas of focus:
- Relevance and fit
- Organizations
- Individuals
Sample questions for enabling action
Focus: Relevance and fit
- So, what is your opinion about this approach after hearing about it? Prompt: In what way(s) has your opinion changed, if at all?
Focus: The organization
- What questions does this raise for you with regard to how our organization approaches this effort?
- So, what are the most important implications of this information for our organization?
Focus: The individual
- How does this project priority affect your work?
- So, what issues or problems does this raise for your work?
Now what?
The “now what” questions:
- Are focused on application; they prompt action
- Encourage ownership, planning, and implementation
- Direct attention in four areas:
- Personal change
- Organizational or community change
- Building ownership
- Operational planning
Sample questions for enabling action
Focus: Personal change
- As a result of this conversation, now what is one thing you could start doing? Stop doing? Continue doing?
Focus: Organizational or community change
- Now, what can we do in our community to address this issue over the coming year?
- What challenges to this plan might we expect, if any? Prompt: How can we address them? What steps should be taken?
- What lessons from this can we apply to our organization right now? In the next three months?
Focus: Building ownership
- Who else needs to be involved so that we can strengthen our impact through this effort?
Focus: Operational planning
- What goals will help us make progress in the next six months? Prompt: A year? Two years?
Strachan, D. (2007). Making Questions Work: A Guide to How and What to Ask for Facilitators, Consultants, Managers, Coaches, and Educators. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Reviewed in 2021