These are open-ended questions and invite conversation, as opposed to questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” But good discovery questions can help you get to know someone better, learn more about a topic you’re interested in, or make small talk more enjoyable. Because these questions can also be a useful tool in the growth of business settings. Such as when you’re trying to get to know a client or understand their needs. So, if you’re looking for good discovery questions, here are a few ideas to get you started:
Discovery Questions Examples
If you’re not sure how to get started with discovery questions, here are a few examples to get you thinking: Or, if you’re stuck on what discovery questions to ask during your next conversation, here are a few options to get you started:
- Which kind of things are your favorite ones e.g., foods, movies, books, etc.?
- How did you get interested in (the topic you’re discussing)?
- What was your best/worst experience with something or someone?
- -What brought you here today?
- -What are you looking for?
- -How can I help you?
- -What do you do?
- -What are you passionate about?
- -What’s your story?
Discovery Questions for Sales
- What are your customers’ most significant pain points?
- What are your customers’ biggest needs?
- What are your customers’ most significant wants?
- What would your ideal customer look like?
- What are your target market’s demographics?
- What are your target market’s interests?
- What are your target market’s needs?
- What are your target market’s wants?
- What are your target market’s buying habits?
- What is your target market’s buying cycle?
- What is your target market’s average order size?
- What is your target market’s lifetime value?
- What is your target market’s buying process?
- What are your target market’s influencers?
- What are your target market’s decision-makers?
- What are your target market’s buying criteria?
- What are your target market’s objections?
Discovery Meeting Questionnaires
Because asking good discovery questions is an important communication skill for the interviewees. So, here are some tips to help you ask great discovery questions:
- First, avoid leading questions. Leading questions are those that suggest a particular answer or that contain assumptions. For example, “Do you think that company XYZ is a good investment?” is a leading question.
- Second, have open-ended approach. But, open-ended questions encourage the interviewees to elaborate on their answers. And, they typically begin with who, what, when, where, or how. For example, “According to you, what is the biggest challenge a company, XYZ faces every day?”
- Third, be specific. So, specific questions are more likely to get specific answers. For example”What do you believe the largest problem confronting the company in the coming year will be?” is more specific than “What do you think is the biggest challenge facing company XYZ?”
- Fourth, prepare yourself. So, before the interview, take some time to research the company and the industry.
