Some professionals such as litigators, journalists and even doctors, are taught to ask questions as part of their training. But few executives think about questioning as a skill that can be honed. That’s a missed opportunity.
Questioning is a powerful tool for unlocking value in companies: It spurs learning and the exchange of ideas, it fuels innovation and better performance, it builds trust among team members. And it can mitigate business risk by uncovering unforeseen pitfalls and hazards.
Several techniques can enhance the power and efficacy of queries: Favor follow-up questions, know when to keep questions open-ended, get the sequence right, use the right tone, and pay attention to group dynamics.
Be clear and concise with your question, but allow the respondent the opportunity to answer however they see fit. Be genuinely curious. Practice good emotional intelligence and communication skills when asking questions to convey your genuine curiosity.
Open-ended questions (those that cannot be answered with a simple “yes” or “no”) give the other person full latitude to share their ideas. In work and in life, open-ended questions provoke rich dialogue rather than one-word responses.
Let's talk about questioning techniques for facilitators.Asking questions is one of the key concepts of facilitation so it's about time we covered this in more depth.
Reflect active listening and grasps the perspective of the receiver of the question. Like paraphrasing, powerful questions illustrate that you actively listen to and understand what the receiver of the question is saying.
What do you think of mindfulness?Do you think we'd be better off without social media?What do you think it means to be healthy?What do you love the most in life?
I ask questions that lead to more questions and set us off into a storm of inquiry. What I call “The BIG questions” ignite curiosity and heighten interest in the learning to come. They guide students to want to think and learn by sparking the inquiry process.
It's tempting to jump straight into an answer (especially if you're feeling a little anxious!). It's important to listen carefully, then pause for a moment and reflect. Make sure that you understand the question clearly before you answer it.
Closed questions are useful when you need a to-the-point answer, whereas open questions are good for extracting more detailed responses. Funnel questions are a way to extract more detail gradually. This technique is a good way to prompt memories or deeper thinking. Probing questions help you gain detail and clarity.
Open it up. If you want something more than a yes or no answer, take a closed question and open it up by starting the question with words like What, Why, or How. ...
Introduction: My name is Edwin Metz, I am a fair, energetic, helpful, brave, outstanding, nice, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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