HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY?

1. Avoid asking rhetorical questions.

A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question. They are typically
asked in order to make a point rather than to elicit an answer. Such questions are not
really questions but are designed to force someone into a specific response.

Examples of rhetorical questions

 Is the pope Catholic?

 You didn’t think I would say yes to that, did you?
 Can birds fly?
 Do you want to be a failure for the rest of your life?
 Who could disagree with the statement that our political system is effective?

2. Ask friendly, clarifying questions.

A good question lets you better understand the situation, and this requires not putting
people on the defensive. Demeaning a person rarely produces honest feedback.

What is a clarifying question?

 a tool used by active listeners to ensure understanding and obtain essential

information. This type of question is simple inquiries of facts.

Examples of clarifying questions

 When did you graduate high school?

 Why did you decide to fill out your job application with a crayon?
 How did you get on the roof without a ladder?
3. Don’t set traps.

Don’t put the listener on the spot. Putting the listener on a trap is by asking loaded
questions. These questions are designed to force a denial of one type or another not to
provide meaningful information. Articulate your questions without erecting a box around
them.

What is a loaded question?

 Is a trick question which presupposes an unverified assumption that the person

being questioned is likely to disagree with. This type of question puts the person
who is being questioned in a disadvantageous and defensive position.

Examples of loaded questions

 Did you quit beating your wife?

 Have you stopped hitting your dog?
 Why are you lazy?

4. Be grateful.

Thank the person for their response. After all, you will likely want their insights again.

5. Avoid stress.

Answers provided during tense situations are often poor ones. If the situation is tense but
not an emergency, then waiting a short time improves the odds of a quality answer, since
the respondent will have time and focus to contemplate.

6. Silence is golden.

Be a willing listener. Even when the other person is not talking, communication is still
active. Take a breather between questions to give you and the other person time to
decompress. This makes your communications less like an interrogation, even if it is a
fact-finding mission.

7. Ask open-ended questions.

Few questions can be correctly answered with yes / no, A / B, forward / backward. Binary
replies are often invalid. It is better to ask an open-ended question -- one without artificial
bounds -- and to give the respondent time to answer with the appropriate level of detail
and nuance. Open-ended questions also allow the listener greater comfort with the
communication, since they are not forced to make incomplete choices.

What is an open-ended question?

 is a question which cannot be answered by ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This is a type of question

that requires more than one word answers since it needs a response.

Examples of open-ended questions

 What is your favorite memory from a childhood?

 What was your high school experience like?
 How did you and your best friend meet?
 How do you manage to raise those children alone?

8. Avoid being too direct.

Even if you are trying to get a specific answer, being too direct and too specific can lead to
rigid answers. Instead of, “Should we create product A or B?” ask, “What product is the
market asking for, and how do our options meet that demand?”. Being too direct in asking
questions is asking close-ended questions to the listeners.
What is a close-ended question?

 is a question that does not allow for various response options. This type of question
expects a particular answer that leads it to be specific in nature. Typically, close-
ended questions lend themselves to ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses.

Examples of close-ended questions:

 Did you attend the conference?

 Will you eat dinner with us?
 When were you born?
 Do you love him or not?
HOW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS EFFECTIVELY?