Positive questions are not soft questions
Use strengths-based questions to discover repeatable conditions behind successful work.
The move: investigate bright spots as evidence, not inspiration. Problem-solving starts with a gap. Appreciative Inquiry starts with a strength. Both are useful. The trap is believing only failures contain serious data. A surprisingly smooth handoff, a customer who adopted quickly, or a meeting where quiet voices contributed all contain design clues. A good appreciative question is specific. "What are we good at?" is too broad. "Tell me about the last renewal that closed with less friction than expected" is usable. Follow the story: Who was involved? What happened before the smooth moment? What artifacts helped? What did people know…
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