You need to know how to ask good questions in order to have good listening skills and build effective work relationships. Most leaders and professionals do not cultivate the skill of asking good questions. They know how to ask an initial question, listen for a short time, and then launch into their solutions to problems presented.

You need to have the intention of asking more questions and listening carefully for a longer period of time. Here are 5 tips on how to ask good questions:

1. Ask open-ended questions more often, vs closed-ended. Closed-ended questions can be answered “Yes or No.” An example is, “Did you write that letter?” Open-ended questions are useful when you want to initiate a discussion to learn something in more depth. An example is, “What do you think should go into the letter to Jones?” Open-ended questions give the other person more room to express themselves.

2. Often use a follow up question such as, “Tell me more” to encourage them to express themselves fully.

3. Use a light touch instead of a heavy hand. Examples of a light touch are: “Perhaps…” “I wonder if…” “What would happen if…”

4. Similarly, use possibility language such as: “Would it be possible that…,” “Could it be that…”

5. Give the other person the option of disagreeing with your views so that you can find out where they stand. The above 3 and 4 encourage that. You can go further and say, “Please tell me what your see as the pros and cons of my views.” Mentioning the “cons” gives them permission to disagree.

These types of questions followed by good listening pay off. If you want to be effective in your leadership or professional situations, learn how to ask good questions.

Listening skills is a full Module of my
Self-Study Program, and my Virtual Workshop Series,
Leadership Communication™. My individual and group executive coaching enhance listening skills for better performance. Please see my home page, EagleAlliance.com