Wait... what? Shorter, more productive meetings? Is that even possible? We've all been stuck in those endless meetings -- the kind where you're just planning the plan to plan the plan. By the end, nothing's actually done, except planning for the next meeting. The fix? Stop wasting time talking in circles and start asking sharper, more focused questions. The right questions cut through the noise, get to the point, and, believe it or not, even wrap things up faster, making your meetings more productive.

Let's be honest: nobody wants to spend more time in a meeting. It's no surprise that Harvard Business Review found over 70% of employees think meetings are a waste. Most of us silently pray no one brings up a new point right when it's almost time to wrap up. Now, coming from a curiosity expert, this might sound surprising, but not all questions are helpful. We all know that one person who loves to hear themselves talk, asking random questions just to have the spotlight. They don't care if it drags out the meeting; they just want to check off that they participated. But that doesn't help anyone -- it just derails the conversation.

The key is not to ask just any question, but the right one. How do you know which question to ask? It's probably the question everyone's been avoiding, but it's exactly what needs to be asked. I've been in rooms where you could feel the tension build, everyone hoping no one would speak up. But when someone finally asked that sharp, necessary question, the whole meeting snapped into focus. It's not about adding time; it's about making the time count.

That's why Tripp & Tyler's viral video A Conference Call in Real Life hit such a nerve. When I interviewed Tripp Crosby, we talked about why it struck a chord. Over 23 million views later, it's still spot on about the pain of conference calls -- awkward silences, bad connections, guessing who's talking. Then they followed it up with A Video Conference Call in Real Life, nailing the chaos of everyone trying to connect, still bogged down by missed signals, tech hiccups, and awkward pauses. It's a reminder of how meetings can go wrong, but imagine how a sharp, well-placed question can cut through the mess and make everyone's time worthwhile.

To avoid being the joke those videos poke fun at, take a cue from Amazon, where they live by the principle to "learn to be curious." They see questions as opportunities, not interruptions. Imagine steering the conversation with, "What haven't we covered that could cause issues down the line?" or "Are there any roadblocks we're not seeing?" If things start drifting, bring it back with, "What's the key issue we need to resolve before we finish?" These kinds of questions shift the focus, push the discussion forward, and make meetings faster and more productive.

No one wants to be the person who drags out a meeting. But smart, targeted questions can actually speed things up and improve communication. In sales, dodging tough questions means missing insights. Instead of, "Is everything okay?" try, "What concerns do you have?" or "What could stop this from being a fit?" If issues pop up, don't panic. Just say, "Great point. Let's fix it now."

Here are a few more examples:

These simple, direct questions can turn long discussions into productive ones, saving everyone time.

Make it a habit to throw in at least one sharp, thought-provoking question during every meeting. Encourage your team to do the same, and watch how quickly things shift from dull status updates to real, dynamic problem-solving. But before you ask, consider: is this question truly helpful, or just a way to check off the participation box? Curiosity isn't about endless questions; it's about asking the ones that cut through the noise and get to the heart of the issue. Next time you're staring at blank faces on Zoom, don't be afraid to ask that question everyone's thinking but too shy to say out loud. It might be the spark that turns a slow, aimless session into a shorter, more productive meeting.