How to ask better questions

Asking questions is key to communication. But many people don’t always ask the right questions, and as a result they miss a lot of important details. Fortunately, asking questions, like anything else, is a skill that can be developed. Seeing the world around you more clearly starts with understanding what you’re looking for when exchanging insights that lead to real discoveries. Before you ask a question, it’s worth thinking about what you’re hoping to get, and how to present it to get the information you’re lacking.

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（edit）Make sure your questions are relevant

1. Willing to ask.⁽¹⁾ Many people are afraid to ask questions because they worry it will make them look ignorant. However, when you ask for explanations or clarifications, it only deepens your understanding. Think of good questions as tools for understanding the world around you.⁽²⁾
   
   • If you’re embarrassed to ask a question in front of others, consider asking the question in an impersonal format such as email, or wait until a time when you can ask the question privately.
   • Ask the right questions Being right at the right time is a characteristic of the strong leader.⁽³⁾
2. Have a clear purpose in mind. Before you ask a question, think about what you hope to gain by asking it. Are you gathering information to make a critical decision, or are you seeking feedback on something you’ve done? Thinking about what exactly you’re trying to achieve will help you refine your questioning and get more satisfying answers.⁽⁴⁾
   
   • Ask yourself, “What do I hope to learn by asking this question?” This will help you ask questions more effectively.
3. Ask relevant and appropriate questions. Sometimes it’s better to keep questions to yourself. Questions may confuse or offend, or the answer may be something you can figure out on your own with the right context clues. Think carefully about your question and what, if anything, it will bring to the conversation.⁽⁵⁾
   
   • If the question you’re asking is one you yourself aren’t willing to answer, it’s best to let it go.
   • Redundant or glaring issues distract from the bigger picture and may make it seem like you’re not paying attention.
4. Ask the right people. Everyone has different feelings, experiences, or expertise. If you want the answers to be useful to you, they must come from an authority. Ask your questions to people who you think may be able to provide the insight you need or who have a direct connection to the subject you are asking about.⁽⁶⁾
   
   • You wouldn’t ask your spouse how to treat acute bronchitis any more than you would ask your doctor how to be a better listener during an argument.
   • By asking questions wisely, you can make the discussion richer for both parties.

（edit）Ask more effective questions

1. Ask questions as soon as they occur to you. It’s best to ask them while they’re still fresh in your mind. That way, you won’t forget them or be embarrassed about asking them later. You’ll also have a chance to clarify key information before moving on to other issues.
   
   • In most cases, you can simply raise your hand or wait for a pause in the conversation before asking your question.
   • If you can’t ask the question right away (like late at night or during a presentation), write it down so you can ask it at the first opportunity.
2. Word your questions carefully. Ideally, your wording should indicate the information you lack. You may know what something is, but not how it works or why it’s important. How you ask a question can determine the type of response you get.⁽⁷⁾
   
   • Avoid using complex terms or overly technical jargon. Try to speak in a way that anyone can understand.
   • Avoid using your own judgment to influence the audience. Instead of asking, “Isn’t David a good candidate?” try asking a more neutral question, “What do you think of Mr. Miller’s proposal?”⁽⁸⁾
3. Keep it short. Don’t use more words than are necessary to express the question. Your audience can easily get bogged down if you ramble on or add lots of qualifications or other irrelevant details. For clarity, each question should boil down to one central theme or idea.⁽⁹⁾
   
   • If you need to touch on more than one point, mention them in follow-up questions.⁽¹⁰⁾
   • Generally speaking, it’s best to use short sentences and don’t beat around the bush. Otherwise, your audience may be forced to guess what you mean.
   • Even a difficult question like “How can we create a more tolerant society?” can be formulated in a simple, direct way.
4. Listen carefully to the answers.⁽¹¹⁾ When you receive an answer, be respectful and don’t interrupt the person. Let them finish explaining before you offer a rebuttal or ask a related question. Any concerns you have may be resolved by their response.⁽¹²⁾
   
   • Maintain eye contact and periodically nod or verbally indicate agreement to let the other person know you are listening.⁽¹³⁾
   • Now is not the time to ask questions or raise opinions. After all, the point of asking questions is to discover something you don’t know yet.
5. Ask follow-up questions. The answers you receive may prompt further questions or may suggest new information. After asking initial questions, you can further explore the ideas being conveyed. Give the other person a chance to explain their point of view more thoroughly or move the discussion from stating facts to presenting practical solutions.⁽¹⁴⁾
   
   • It may help to approach the question from different angles. If your first question is, “What is the biggest obstacle facing this project?”, then your next question might be, “How can we solve this problem quickly and efficiently?”⁽¹⁵⁾
   • Narrow down your questions when asking follow-up questions – start by outlining the topic, then work your way down to the details.

（edit）Ask questions in various situations

1. Ask for specific information. When you need to know something, asking is often the best way to find out the answer. Your question may be simple, like “What time is it?” or complex, like “How is ribosomal RNA produced?”, but either way, asking will help you.⁽¹⁶⁾
   
   • Arriving at the correct answer in a timely manner will be most useful in situations where your ability to succeed depends on having all the facts, such as when you are studying for a test or need guidance.
   • to form a habit Ask thoughtful questions every day Become a lifelong learner.⁽¹⁷⁾
2. Get a sense of someone’s thoughts or perspectives. Sometimes our most compelling ideas are the result of observations by other people. Whenever possible, encourage your audience to tell you what they think about an issue or event. Asking someone how they feel allows them to share their unique perspective, which may lead you to notice something you hadn’t considered before.⁽¹⁸⁾
   
   • Asking inclusive questions that engage and make those around you think is essential to building camaraderie, whether they are colleagues or acquaintances.⁽¹⁹⁾
   • These types of questions can also have a positive impact on relationships because they show that you care about what the other person has to say.
3. ask Open-ended questionsTry not to limit your questions to a prescribed set of options (“Is holistic medicine a good or bad thing?”). It’s best to keep questions abstract to leave room for a wider range of possible answers. Open-ended prompts help spark deep discussions that have the potential to lead to illuminating breakthroughs.⁽²⁰⁾
   
   • “Do you like my paintings?” requires a simple “yes” or “no” response, whereas “What did you think of the exhibition?” allows the audience to freely express their impressions.^{(twenty one)}
   • Abstract questions require the audience to draw their own conclusions rather than being led to traditional answers.

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（edit）Cutting Edge

• Become familiar with the six common question words (“who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how”) and use the one that best suits the situation.
• When you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask – the more you ask, the more you learn.
• Be prepared to receive answers with an open mind. If you are opinionated or indifferent to the answer, you will not benefit from what others tell you.
• Assume that you know less than you actually do. You may find out that what you knew about a subject was wrong.

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• Avoid asking questions that could be construed as rude or insulting. This will likely alienate your audience and will only hurt your chances of reaching a mutual understanding.

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