Speaker and business trainer Lou Adler once said, “Good people ask good questions.” People who ask good questions see themselves as learners. They engage with a sense of curiosity, wonder and a willingness to acknowledge that they don’t know everything.

Try putting this approach to use at your next meeting with a client, prospect, colleague or employee. Ask questions even when you think you know the answer. You may be surprised by what you learn. The knowledge you gain may reveal that you were making assumptions.

Asking questions can also help you uncover more aspects of the truth of any situation. We may think we know something, but in reality, we can only know what our limited perspective allows. Our life experiences only shed partial light on just about anything we encounter. So don’t assume. Ask. Ask questions based on authentic curiosity and a desire to learn from others.