Good leaders know how to ask questions and remain silent when people talk.

         To gain information, learn to ask simple questions.

A handful of tips to improve your questioning skills

         Most successful people are usually skilled questioners.

Master the skills of asking questions.

* To start

         Start with a comfortable question to draw people out, establish a rapport, and get them talking. “I hear you are a successful runner. Which club do you run for? How did you start?”

*  Ask open-ended questions

         Closed questions bring only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response. “Did you attend the office party last week?”

         Open-ended questions invite a longer reply and get people talking. “What did you like best about the office party last week?”

* Keep them simple

         Most professional interviewers use simple questions such as what, why, when, where, how, and how much and get most of the information they want.

         To remember these, learn this verse from  Kipling’s ‘Elephant Boy’.

“I kept six honest serving men

(They taught me all I knew)

Their names were What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.”

* Try some ‘suppose and probe’ questions

         “Suppose you were the boss. What things would you change?”

“You said you were not happy with your working conditions. Why is that?”

“What made you say that?”

“I am sorry to hear I have upset you. Thank you for telling me. What is the problem?”

* Try agreement questions

         “That sounds like a good idea. How do you think we could make that happen?    

“How would you like a job in another department? Would that suit you?”

         Time spent preparing and asking the right questions could change your career. But remember you will also need good listening skills to go with your questions.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“Without the right question, you will never get the right answer.”