0:00:09.439,0:00:11.602 How would Google be 0:00:12.267,0:00:14.588 if, instead of offering answers, 0:00:14.588,0:00:16.768 it offered questions? 0:00:17.882,0:00:20.172 The first time this question[br]came to my mind[br] 0:00:20.172,0:00:22.201 was when I received an invitation 0:00:22.201,0:00:25.817 to teach what I thought[br]would be a leadership course[br] 0:00:25.817,0:00:28.918 to youngsters from the Amazon [br]riverside communities.[br] 0:00:29.893,0:00:34.260 From the point of view of someone coming[br]from an economically privileged region, [br] 0:00:34.260,0:00:37.014 I thought I'd have a lot [br]to teach these youngsters. 0:00:37.574,0:00:40.124 But what happened was [br]exactly the opposite.[br] 0:00:40.654,0:00:43.233 When we started to collect[br]more information[br] 0:00:43.233,0:00:44.975 about their lifestyles 0:00:44.975,0:00:50.125 in a riverside community[br]in the midst of the Amazon, 0:00:50.805,0:00:53.866 I realized that nothing,[br]absolutely nothing, 0:00:53.866,0:00:57.636 that I knew about leadership[br]would be useful for them,[br] 0:00:57.648,0:01:01.148 at least in the way I was used [br]to dealing with the term.[br] 0:01:01.738,0:01:03.428 Just to give one example, 0:01:03.428,0:01:08.831 many of them traveled four days[br]by boat to attend this meeting; 0:01:10.401,0:01:12.669 and, to make it worse,[br]seven days to return, 0:01:12.669,0:01:15.379 because the way back[br]is countercurrent to the Jurua river. 0:01:16.599,0:01:18.940 What we did then was[br]to reverse the process: 0:01:18.940,0:01:21.560 instead of class, questions; 0:01:22.230,0:01:25.880 instead of teaching,[br]learn with the participants. 0:01:26.930,0:01:30.999 What we did was to adapt[br]a methodology based on questions. 0:01:30.999,0:01:34.762 In three questions, in fact;[br]the first one was, 0:01:34.770,0:01:38.521 what's good here, in your community? 0:01:38.521,0:01:41.121 Let's appreciate what we already have, 0:01:41.121,0:01:43.352 so then, yes, we could ask[br]the second question, 0:01:43.352,0:01:47.153 what's the dream you have [br]for your communities? 0:01:48.163,0:01:49.695 And end asking, 0:01:49.695,0:01:53.983 and now, what are you going to do[br]to make these dreams come true? 0:01:54.863,0:01:58.020 We ended up doing[br]two activities with them. 0:01:58.020,0:02:00.714 In the first, we handed them[br]cardboard paper [br] 0:02:00.714,0:02:04.374 and asked them to draw[br]how their communities would be like 0:02:04.374,0:02:06.744 when their dreams had come true. 0:02:07.974,0:02:11.575 We thought it would be something[br]like an urban center or similar.[br] 0:02:11.575,0:02:14.189 But what's most interesting[br]is that, in all cardboards, 0:02:14.189,0:02:17.065 one color predominated: green. 0:02:17.065,0:02:23.236 Instead of buildings, the community[br]exactly as it is, with one addition; 0:02:23.856,0:02:26.026 like, for example, a school, 0:02:26.026,0:02:28.587 or an information technology laboratory, 0:02:28.587,0:02:30.547 or a health center, 0:02:30.547,0:02:34.747 so they wouldn't need to travel[br]three or four hours by boat 0:02:34.747,0:02:38.607 to study, to learn or to treat[br]some health problem.[br] 0:02:39.607,0:02:41.218 The best part for me, though, 0:02:41.218,0:02:44.499 was when we did a round[br]of interviews, like a talk show, 0:02:44.499,0:02:47.979 and called an 11-year-old girl, 0:02:47.979,0:02:50.389 and one of the questions we asked her was, 0:02:50.389,0:02:52.819 "What do you want to be when you grow up?" 0:02:53.919,0:02:57.011 She answered, very seriously,[br]"I want to be a lawyer." 0:02:57.491,0:03:00.531 And we said, "Wow, a lawyer, superb. Why?" 0:03:00.981,0:03:04.981 And, in a very unique way,[br]she turned and said, 0:03:05.761,0:03:09.031 "Once I heard lawyers[br]make a lot of money." 0:03:10.921,0:03:13.887 But, she continued, "But that's not[br]why I want to be a lawyer. 0:03:13.887,0:03:17.176 I want to be a lawyer[br]to defend my forest." 0:03:19.856,0:03:22.646 The way she answered moved us 0:03:22.646,0:03:24.596 and made us think about many things, 0:03:24.596,0:03:27.698 because it's likely few people 0:03:27.698,0:03:32.418 are so connected with their[br]environment the way she was with hers. 0:03:32.418,0:03:37.438 I have never seen my town the way[br]she saw her forest, for instance.[br] 0:03:38.278,0:03:40.658 But maybe not everyone is so connected 0:03:40.658,0:03:43.478 with their communities,[br]with the people around them. 0:03:44.098,0:03:47.108 And maybe not everyone[br]is so connected with their own selves, 0:03:47.928,0:03:49.991 to the point of having enough awareness 0:03:49.991,0:03:52.854 to understand their purpose[br]in the middle of it all. 0:03:55.814,0:03:57.900 The problem, though, is not so visible. 0:03:58.880,0:04:03.050 Sometimes, our lack in questioning[br]things and asking questions 0:04:03.050,0:04:05.702 puts us in automatic mode 0:04:05.702,0:04:09.222 and we end up used to the way things are, 0:04:09.222,0:04:13.802 instead of exploring the beauty[br]of how things could be.[br] 0:04:14.992,0:04:17.483 Now, the fact that we don't ask[br]many questions, 0:04:17.483,0:04:19.696 sometimes it can look like laziness, 0:04:19.696,0:04:23.316 lack of motivation, energy,[br]or something like that,[br] 0:04:23.316,0:04:26.806 but, honestly, I think[br]this is truly resignation. 0:04:26.806,0:04:30.046 It's resignation to believe[br]it can be better, 0:04:30.046,0:04:35.727 and that now, in this moment,[br]there are new truths floating among us. 0:04:37.317,0:04:39.797 One of my favorite films[br]explores this very well. 0:04:39.797,0:04:42.158 It's called "Twelve Angry Men." 0:04:42.638,0:04:46.698 To make a brief summary,[br]12 men are part of a popular jury 0:04:46.698,0:04:48.888 and they need to decide the fate 0:04:48.888,0:04:52.250 of an 18-year-old boy,[br]charged with killing his own father. 0:04:52.250,0:04:56.630 Out of the 12, 11 are sure,[br]positive, that he's guilty 0:04:56.630,0:04:59.671 and want to condemn him[br]to the electric chair and go home. 0:04:59.671,0:05:03.320 Except that, of the 12,[br]one of them still has doubts 0:05:03.320,0:05:06.179 and he asks questions[br]that provoke others to think, 0:05:06.179,0:05:11.513 and change a history that could culminate[br]in the death of an innocent young man. 0:05:13.561,0:05:16.521 The issue is, to manage[br]to ask the right questions - 0:05:16.521,0:05:20.072 and, many times,[br]the environment is quite sterile 0:05:20.072,0:05:23.107 for receiving the right questions - 0:05:23.107,0:05:26.331 some previous steps[br]are interesting to be taken. 0:05:26.331,0:05:30.110 The first one is that people should [br]be able to create vulnerability[br] 0:05:30.110,0:05:31.713 in a certain group, 0:05:31.713,0:05:34.323 so we can have empathy[br]with their mental model;[br] 0:05:34.323,0:05:37.654 because, when we have empathy[br]with a mental model of a certain group, 0:05:37.654,0:05:41.914 we are sure we can undo [br]the certainties we have 0:05:41.914,0:05:45.285 so as to open room to real doubts; 0:05:45.285,0:05:47.474 to be able to ask the right questions. 0:05:49.774,0:05:51.485 But do we do this right? 0:05:51.485,0:05:53.824 When, for example, a curious kid asks, 0:05:53.824,0:05:57.604 "Why? Why? Why?" and we answer,[br]without any patience, "Because I said so," 0:05:58.114,0:06:02.115 what incentive are we giving that kid[br]to make them good "question makers" 0:06:02.115,0:06:05.025 and to actually want to question[br]what is happening?[br] 0:06:07.305,0:06:10.288 What ends up happening, with all of this, 0:06:10.288,0:06:14.597 is that we start to get incentive[br]to stop asking questions. 0:06:14.597,0:06:18.428 And when I stop asking questions,[br]I start to keep myself to my world,[br] 0:06:18.428,0:06:20.559 to my individualism; 0:06:20.559,0:06:24.830 and I also forget to ask[br]who are the people around me. 0:06:26.020,0:06:29.237 So, what we can do[br]is to keep on asking questions, 0:06:29.237,0:06:31.075 making the effort to ask. 0:06:33.255,0:06:34.929 And what's most interesting 0:06:34.929,0:06:37.599 is that they don't necessarily[br]need to be verbalized. 0:06:37.599,0:06:41.712 When we are aware[br]of the meaning of our action, 0:06:41.712,0:06:44.152 our action is our question. 0:06:45.032,0:06:48.692 For example, a good urban project[br]can actually be a question,[br] 0:06:48.692,0:06:52.842 "What can I do to make sure[br]people interact more and better 0:06:52.842,0:06:54.292 in public spaces?" 0:06:55.232,0:06:57.236 An innovative school can be a question, 0:06:57.236,0:07:01.513 "What can I do to make sure human beings[br]are formed like human beings?" 0:07:02.543,0:07:05.653 Or, even better, how can a nutcase ask, 0:07:05.653,0:07:07.973 "What's the problem [br]in hugging a stranger?" 0:07:08.513,0:07:11.224 We're already doing this [br]here today, as a matter of fact. 0:07:11.224,0:07:12.314 (Laughter) 0:07:14.854,0:07:17.619 The interesting thing is[br]when we start to ask questions, 0:07:17.619,0:07:22.107 when I start to ask something about you[br]and to put myself in your shoes,[br] 0:07:22.107,0:07:24.866 I start to understand[br]your perspective of the world. 0:07:24.866,0:07:27.916 Even better, I start[br]to understand your world. 0:07:28.946,0:07:32.976 One interesting thing I heard once was: 0:07:32.976,0:07:35.645 we don't see the world the way it is; 0:07:36.115,0:07:38.435 the world is the way we see it. 0:07:38.925,0:07:41.738 And when we can understand better 0:07:42.748,0:07:44.688 other people's views, 0:07:44.688,0:07:47.538 this starts to happen[br]much more effectively. 0:07:48.488,0:07:52.851 Much more than benevolent,[br]this makes us more intelligent, 0:07:53.571,0:07:55.989 to solve complex problems, 0:07:55.989,0:07:58.858 that have cause and effect[br]apart from each other.[br] 0:07:58.858,0:08:01.779 And we make them closer[br]with our own approach.[br] 0:08:03.799,0:08:07.549 To manage to do this,[br]three steps are interesting. 0:08:08.529,0:08:13.401 First, we need to connect,[br]and to connect is very simple. 0:08:14.431,0:08:18.311 It's to become vulnerable,[br]to manage to say, "I don't know." 0:08:18.821,0:08:21.211 It's to want to know, "Who are you?" 0:08:21.991,0:08:25.832 It's to be able to ask,[br]"Why?" or "What for?" 0:08:26.472,0:08:31.342 Because when we manage to do this,[br]to create an atmosphere of questioning,[br] 0:08:31.342,0:08:36.513 the doubts that arise[br]come with great humbleness. 0:08:36.893,0:08:40.034 Because when we ask the right questions,[br]in fact, what we are doing 0:08:40.034,0:08:42.954 is to consider the hypothesis[br]of us being wrong 0:08:42.954,0:08:45.084 or that we may not have[br]all the information. 0:08:45.084,0:08:49.504 Because, when I admit that I'm wrong[br]or that I lack information, 0:08:49.504,0:08:54.474 then, in this case I might have enough [br]awareness to provoke an action 0:08:54.474,0:08:56.855 myself or of the whole community.[br] 0:08:59.165,0:09:03.779 Viktor Frankl once said, "You can take[br]everything away from a person. 0:09:04.053,0:09:07.023 Except the last type of freedom, 0:09:07.023,0:09:10.473 which is the freedom to choose,[br]the freedom of our own attitude, 0:09:10.493,0:09:14.657 the freedom to build one's own way,[br]regardless of circumstances." 0:09:15.257,0:09:19.224 And the process[br]to make question asking easier, 0:09:19.224,0:09:22.436 is, in reality, a process of freedom 0:09:22.436,0:09:26.713 because when we ask the right question, 0:09:26.713,0:09:29.903 we are, in fact, opening space for choice.[br][br] 0:09:30.493,0:09:34.194 Because I only choose something[br]when I question something. 0:09:36.744,0:09:41.127 It's a true fact that we, as a species, 0:09:41.127,0:09:45.327 have always been moved by questions[br]that enabled us to survive and evolve. 0:09:45.327,0:09:46.997 This is not new. 0:09:47.617,0:09:50.877 The big question is that, maybe,[br]we're in an imbalance 0:09:51.837,0:09:54.389 for having too many answers, 0:09:54.389,0:09:58.449 because answers are more and more [br]accessible and in greater quantity[br] 0:09:58.449,0:10:01.088 and they usually come from outside; 0:10:01.758,0:10:04.347 and questions are more and more scarce, 0:10:05.267,0:10:09.580 because they demand some energy level[br]we aren't used to anymore, 0:10:09.580,0:10:11.869 especially because they come from inside. 0:10:12.529,0:10:15.903 It is this imbalance that worries us. 0:10:15.903,0:10:19.440 That's why I urge us all [br]to keep on asking; 0:10:19.440,0:10:23.071 keep on asking because, in a given moment, 0:10:23.071,0:10:24.769 something is going to happen. 0:10:24.769,0:10:27.151 Miguel Cavalcanti said [br]something very nice, 0:10:27.151,0:10:31.054 "When we have all the answers,[br]it's time we changed the questions." 0:10:34.201,0:10:36.912 But, above all, asking good questions 0:10:36.912,0:10:39.863 makes us excellent leaders, 0:10:39.863,0:10:42.993 capable of seeing the world[br]with other eyes. 0:10:43.643,0:10:45.894 I keep thinking that maybe we don't need 0:10:45.894,0:10:49.974 more data, more information,[br]or even more knowledge. 0:10:51.694,0:10:53.820 We just need new eyes 0:10:53.820,0:10:57.760 that allow us to see what no one has seen 0:10:57.760,0:11:00.533 and ask what no one has asked. 0:11:03.433,0:11:05.635 The answers are what exactly, after all? 0:11:05.635,0:11:07.361 A picture of the present. 0:11:07.951,0:11:11.195 But, if the present is always changing,[br] 0:11:11.195,0:11:13.114 what are they for? 0:11:13.824,0:11:15.204 Maybe it is this: 0:11:15.704,0:11:18.496 the answers are disposable, 0:11:18.496,0:11:20.926 the questions are reusable. 0:11:22.406,0:11:25.297 (Applause) 0:11:29.277,0:11:31.230 Answers generate comfort. 0:11:32.270,0:11:35.867 Questions generate awareness and action. 0:11:38.247,0:11:41.468 At the same time, it's a dilemma,[br]we've got to admit it. 0:11:41.468,0:11:43.509 Do I question, or do I move forward? 0:11:43.509,0:11:47.039 Because moving forward is important,[br]it gives us a sense of accomplishment; 0:11:47.039,0:11:49.790 moving forward allows us to do something. 0:11:49.790,0:11:52.679 But when we embrace[br]the freedom to ask a question, 0:11:52.679,0:11:55.090 we are actually embracing[br]the freedom of choice; 0:11:55.090,0:11:58.039 and freedom of choice provokes[br]an incredible movement[br] 0:11:58.039,0:12:02.180 of taking us away from the victim position[br]to the protagonist position.[br] 0:12:03.680,0:12:06.035 and, if that seems interesting[br]for an individual,[br] 0:12:06.035,0:12:08.532 imagine how powerful[br]this is for an organization 0:12:08.532,0:12:10.532 or for the community as a whole. 0:12:10.532,0:12:12.902 This power goes way beyond[br]our comprehension.[br] 0:12:12.902,0:12:16.251 This is much more than rational,[br]much more than Cartesian. 0:12:19.381,0:12:22.663 So, the big question is [br]how to know exactly 0:12:22.663,0:12:25.403 what is the right moment to question, 0:12:25.403,0:12:28.911 as this might give us knowledge 0:12:28.911,0:12:31.459 to understand if the moment [br]to ask is right 0:12:31.459,0:12:33.749 or if it is the moment to move forward. 0:12:34.269,0:12:37.013 That's why I'd like to finish with a fable 0:12:37.013,0:12:40.084 that starts exactly with a question 0:12:40.084,0:12:42.004 between a bird and a squirrel. 0:12:42.424,0:12:45.664 One day a bird approached [br]a squirrel and said, "Squirrel, 0:12:45.664,0:12:48.215 you, with all your wisdom, [br]tell me one thing, 0:12:48.215,0:12:50.875 how much does a snow flake weigh?" 0:12:51.945,0:12:55.816 The squirrel answered, [br]"Nothing more than nothing." 0:12:56.336,0:12:58.449 The bird replied, "Are you serious? 0:12:58.449,0:13:01.849 So sit down, I want to tell you a thing[br]that happened to me yesterday." 0:13:01.849,0:13:03.732 And the bird said, 0:13:03.732,0:13:06.708 "I was on top of a branch[br]when it started to snow. 0:13:08.538,0:13:10.826 I'm a bird, I wasn't doing[br]anything at all, 0:13:10.826,0:13:11.857 (Laughter) 0:13:11.857,0:13:15.128 so I decided to count how many snow flakes[br]would fall on that branch.[br] 0:13:16.258,0:13:17.517 And I counted, 0:13:17.517,0:13:22.389 2 million, 999 thousand, 999 snow flakes. 0:13:23.279,0:13:28.436 As each snow flake weighs nothing more[br]than nothing, nothing happened." 0:13:30.256,0:13:34.839 But then the bird said,[br]"Snow flake 3 million fell. 0:13:34.839,0:13:37.260 And, when snow flake 3 million fell, 0:13:37.260,0:13:40.429 the branch broke and fell on the ground." 0:13:40.429,0:13:41.690 The squirrel said, "So?" 0:13:41.690,0:13:44.221 And the bird said, "So, I kept thinking, 0:13:44.221,0:13:47.741 what if the entire world[br]has made its movement, 0:13:47.741,0:13:49.491 and it's only waiting for my move 0:13:49.491,0:13:52.221 so a great movement can take shape?" 0:13:54.021,0:13:57.011 (Applause) 0:14:02.856,0:14:04.873 And he continued, 0:14:04.873,0:14:09.392 "What if the only thing missing is my move 0:14:09.392,0:14:12.304 so I can, in fact, see the world[br]the way I want it?" 0:14:13.394,0:14:17.453 That girl in the Amazon was a snow flake, [br]even without knowing it. 0:14:17.863,0:14:20.373 Exactly like each one of us here. 0:14:20.373,0:14:24.495 And, as I finish here, hoping that[br]we'll keep on asking and questioning, 0:14:24.495,0:14:26.875 I'll finish with one question: 0:14:26.875,0:14:28.865 what if only you are missing? 0:14:29.335,0:14:30.606 Thank you. 0:14:30.606,0:14:33.605 (Applause)