Asking simple questions

John Sawatsky and the power of simple questions - Signal vs. Noise (by 37signals) John Sawatsky suggests in this and related posts that interviewers gather the most important facts by asking simple questions. In business, asking simple questions can lead to just as important discoveries as in journalism. We often look to detailed interviewing and analysis of data for answers to difficult performance related problems. 

The best questions, argues Sawatsky, are like clean windows.

“A clean window gives a perfect view. When we ask a question, we want to get a window into the source. When you put values in your questions, it’s like putting dirt on the window. It obscures the view of the lake beyond. People shouldn’t notice the question in an interview, just like they shouldn’t notice the window. They should be looking at the lake.”