The Angle Advantage

Finding Answers by Asking the Right Questions

You have to find a lot of ways to ask the same question, and approach the same question from a lot of different angles. Then you have to build questions from that response, to explore more. - Daniel Coyle

Great insights and discoveries are portrayed as flashes of brilliance. A genius makes a grand discovery.  

The truth is, more often than not, the opposite.  

I recently listened to a How to Take Over the World podcast on the Wright brothers. 

One thing that stuck with me was how many disadvantages the Wright brothers had to overcome. They were two bicycle repairmen. They had no aviation experience. They had no government sponsorship, no wealthy donors, and only a small workshop.

They came out on top despite the odds. Their competitors were more well-funded, more experienced, and well-equipped. 

How did the Wright brothers do it?

It came from challenging the prevailing wisdom at the time.

Different Angles

In the early 20th century, most aviation pioneers believed the key to flying was getting enough lift and thrust (i.e., power).

The best minds of the time spent all their money, energy, and resources on building powerful engines.

It turns out that the wisdom was wrong. 

As the Wright brothers began experimenting, they started asking questions. 

They took a lesson from bicycles. 

Once you have enough speed, riding a bike is more about balance and stability than power. They took this same insight and applied it to planes.

The rest is history. 

Applying Lessons Learned

The Wright brothers realized that achieving balance and control was crucial. Just like riding a bike.

People struggled and strained, fighting with the plane to stay in the air for more than a few seconds. The Wright brothers did it for a few minutes, and it looked effortless.  

Wilbur and Orville had a key insight into flying. It challenged the conventional wisdom of their time.

They looked at the problem from a different angle. They saw that flying isn't about power.

It's about controlled power. 

How to Solve Problems

Asking questions can help us learn to solve problems. Questions lead to new ways of thinking about problems. Like the question, “Why is it so hard to control a plane in the air?”

Most of the great insights aren’t discoveries but rediscoveries. Inventions come from combining ideas together. Connecting dots that seem unrelated, like riding a bike and flying a plane.

If you're struggling, don’t look for a flash of insight or brilliance.

Embrace the process. Look at the problem from different angles. This often requires eliminating obvious options. Only the options left can be correct.

I cannot tell you how many times I have beaten my head against the wall over and over and over again, only to try a different approach and have success. This is true in work, athletics, and relationships. 

I’ve examined my lifting, especially the snatch, from 20 different angles. I've used different leadership and management strategies. I've had to try different relationship approaches to strengthen and deepen them.

Take a lesson from the Wright brothers. If you're struggling with a problem, look at it from a different angle. 

Don’t always follow the modern wisdom. Your answer will likely be found on the other side of a good question.