Socratic Questioning: Ask Smarter, Think Deeper

Upgrade Your Thinking - And Your Career - With Socratic Questioning

What you'll learn

Understand the difference between surface-level questions and high-impact ones.

Define the six core types of Socratic questions used to drive deeper thinking.

Identify when a question is leading, closed, or loaded - and how to reframe it.

Understand how to use Socratic questioning in real-time conversations without sounding confrontational.

Identify the signs of fake curiosity and how to avoid asking manipulative questions.

Define the role of tone, timing, and respect in delivering questions that land well.

Understand how to guide others through reflection without pushing them into defensiveness.

Identify your own assumptions and blind spots through inward Socratic questioning.

Define what makes a question constructive in meetings, classrooms, or coaching settings.

Understand how better questioning skills can improve decision-making, communication, and leadership.

Requirements

No specialist degree needed. You will learn everything you need to know.

Description

IMPORTANT UPDATE: This course is an early adopter of AI-powered Role Plays, which is the latest Udemy learning feature. Role Play is Udemy's new customizable, interactive conversation simulator, designed to help coach learners through scenarios and based on the content of the course. So you can practice in a kind of virtual sandbox, before you take your skills IRL. The Role Plays are already created for this course and will become available when Udemy makes them visible to students. Enrol now and get full access once this new feature becomes visible! You’ve Been Trained to Give Answers - Not Ask Better QuestionsIn school, at work, and in meetings - we’re taught to sound confident, give quick answers, and move fast.But the people who stand out aren’t the ones with the flashiest responses.They’re the ones who ask the right questions - the kind that uncover blind spots, defuse tension, and lead teams forward.The truth is, most people ask weak questions.They skim the surface, repeat what they already believe, and miss the chance to uncover what really matters.At work, that leads to:Confused decisionsFrustrated teamsMissed opportunitiesIn leadership, it slows your ability to coach, influence, and guide others.In your career, it holds you back - because smart questioning is a key marker of strategic thinkers.Do These Sound Familiar?You try to help someone think more clearly — and they shut down.You challenge a bad idea - and get labelled “difficult.”You ask a question - and realize it wasn’t really a question, just a disguised opinion.You try to reflect on your own decisions — but keep circling the same thoughts.You’re not alone. Most people never learn how to ask questions that actually do something.They confuse pressure with clarity. Curiosity with confrontation.And they miss the chance to grow faster, lead better, and make smarter calls.Introducing: Socratic Questioning: Ask Smarter, Think DeeperA practical course that teaches you how to ask better questions — the kind that lead to sharper thinking, clearer conversations, and better outcomes at work and beyond.What You’ll Learn Inside:Part 1: Why Questions Matter More Than AnswersWhy most questions are surface-level - and how to ask ones that actually matter.Learn the difference between open, closed, and leading questions.Discover why the right question often beats a brilliant argument.Part 2: The Six Types of Socratic QuestionsExplore six question categories that go deep: assumptions, evidence, implications, and more.Part 3: Real-Time Tools for ConversationsHow to slow down a discussion, listen actively, and stay curious - even when it’s tense.Includes real-world dialogue examples and practical phrasing.Part 4: Questioning YourselfUse Socratic questioning for personal reflection, journaling, and belief-testing - without spiralling.Part 5: Leading and Teaching With QuestionsHow great coaches, teachers, and managers use questions to guide others - not lecture them.What’s Inside the CourseReal examples and scenarios - not just theoryPractice activities for real conversationsGuided reflections and promptsQuizzes to reinforce the toolsRole play simulationsWho This Course Is ForProfessionals who want to challenge ideas without shutting people downLearners who want to reflect more deeply - and think more clearlyAnyone tired of surface-level talk and ready for real conversationsTeachers and facilitators who want to lead discussions that matterMost people talk.Few people question.Even fewer know how to question in a way that opens minds - not closes them.If you’re ready to ask better, listen deeper, and think more clearly - this course will get you there.Enrol now and start asking questions that actually matter.From My Students:"The course was very informative and helpful, and I will apply the knowledge I gain. The lecturer was incredibly fantastic. He explain all the concepts and the definitions of all the topics.""Dr. Zwolski truly has teaching skills. He is a straightforward professor and his videos are both interesting and valuable.""The course is really informative and provides a very in-depth analysis of several complex topics which otherwise would have been quite difficult to understand.""The instructor is a good lecturer. Interesting material presented clearly and concisely.""The lectures have been made very simple to understand! Kamil is doing an amazing job!""Crisp and clear videos, to the point, can be watched easily on the mobile phone.""Wow! If your reading the comments and debating on whether or not to take this course,TAKE IT! If you read The Economist, Forbes, taking classes on International relations, or stationed on a foreign base, this class is for you! After this you should be able to decipher mainstream media news outlets! Semper Fi!"

Overview

Section 1: Why Questions Matter More Than Answers

Lecture 1 Why most questions are surface-level - and what to ask instead

Lecture 2 The difference between open, closed, and leading questions

Lecture 3 What Socratic questioning is (and isn’t)

Lecture 4 Why the right question can be more powerful than a great argument

Lecture 5 Rewrite shallow questions into deep ones

Section 2: The Six Types of Socratic Questions

Lecture 6 Type 1: Questions of Clarification

Lecture 7 Type 2: Questions That Probe Assumptions

Lecture 8 Type 3: Questions That Probe Reasons and Evidence

Lecture 9 Type 4: Questions About Viewpoints and Perspectives

Lecture 10 Type 5: Questions About Implications and Consequences

Lecture 11 Type 6: Questions About the Question (Meta-Questions)

Section 3: How to Use Socratic Questioning in Real Time

Lecture 12 How to Slow Down a Conversation and Create Space for Inquiry

Lecture 13 Active Listening as the Foundation for Good Questioning

Lecture 14 How to Stay Curious (Even When You Disagree)

Lecture 15 Avoiding “Gotcha” Questioning - Staying Constructive

Section 4: Questioning Your Own Beliefs and Assumptions

Lecture 16 How to Challenge Your Own Thinking Without Spiraling

Lecture 17 Spotting Hidden Assumptions in Your Own Reasoning

Lecture 18 Using Questioning as a Journaling or Thinking Tool

Lecture 19 Take One Belief and Break It Down Socratically

Lecture 20 How This Improves Confidence (Not Just Doubt)

Section 5: Using Socratic Questioning to Teach and Lead

Lecture 21 How Teachers, Managers, and Coaches Use It to Guide Others

Lecture 22 The Difference Between Guiding and Interrogating

Lecture 23 How to Create Psychological Safety When Asking Tough Questions

Lecture 24 Tips for Making This a Habit in Meetings or Classrooms

Professionals who want to challenge ideas without shutting people down,Learners who want to reflect more deeply - and think more clearly,Anyone tired of surface-level talk and ready for real conversations,Teachers, managerts and facilitators who want to lead discussions that matter