10 Ways to Ask Great Questions
Identify Your Discovery Roadmap
Before launching the fact-finding session, determine the essential details you seek, and build each one into the ensuing discussion.
Limit Your Assumptions
Remember: The more you think you know, the less you’ll find out.
Ask Open-Ended Questions
Open-ended questions which begin with words like “what,” “how” and “why” will help eliminate dead-end “yes” or “no” responses and other unhelpful one-word replies.
Listen Actively
That’s when you physically engage the other person with eye contact, posture and comforting gestures to make them know that their input is important.
Don’t Overwhelm
Each question should address a singular line of inquiry, not three, four, etc.
Reload the Question
If you have suspicions about an earlier answer, repeat the same question with altered wording later in the conversation to see if the response remains consistent.
Don’t Ask Leading Questions
That’s when you supply an answer that you think you’re looking for. But you may prevent a more truthful and valuable narrative disclosure this way.
Embrace Smart Silence
Not saying anything in a one-on-one conversation can cause the other person to keep talking, thereby dispensing useful information.
Always Opt for Face-to-Face
Yes, you can get good information from a phone call or text, but you’ll always get more in person.
Eliminate Distractions
Go somewhere where there will be no interruptions, with no computers in sight and smartphones turned off.