What do you think about this question? Will it get the discussion started on the right path?

It's a bad opening
 It's a good way to get started

So what should Bob ask next?

"Right, so is it a question of being in the job long enough so that you get more experience?"
 "Tell me more about it."
 "Do you feel that you need a different approach?"
 "Tell me more about dealing with your section head."

"Do you think you are getting on OK with your project at present?"
Is this:

A closed question?
 An open question?

"How are things going? I heard your presentation went down well!"
Is this a good question?

Yes, it's an open, positive question.
 It's not a good question.

Now we're going to jump ahead a bit, and look at a tricky skill - Giving Feedback!

© TeamCommunications.com 2001

We've now identified one of the most difficult questioning techniques for the mentor to learn - the 'probing' question. Many people are comfortable with 'open' and 'closed' questions. Bob starts well, with an open question designed to get Tanya to talking. But she doesn't respond in the way he wanted. This often happens! Yet questioning techniques are fundamental to every development or problem solving activity and every mentor needs to be skilled in this area.

You must resist the temptation to 'leap in' and take the initiative, or suggest possible solutions too early. You need to ask a probing question to get the information flowing.

Here are three examples:

1. Open question:

"How are you getting on?"

2. Response:

"Well, not too bad"

3. Probing question:

"Not too bad - how do you mean?"

 

1. Open question:

"What do you plan to do about it?"

2. Response:

"Er..I"m not really sure.."

3. Probing question:

"Well, what might be the first thing you"ll do?"

 

1. Open question:

"Why did that happen, do you think?"

2. Response:

"I guess it was just one of those things"

3. Probing question:

"What might have caused it?"

Try to phrase the question in such a way that it continues to "open up" the discussion, and prevents the person from closing down further.

Sometimes, you just need to make the right noises, or encouraging remarks. Look at this example -

1. Open question:

"So,what are your ideas?"

2. Response:

"I have thought of one thing, but I"m not really sure..."

3. Probing "question"

"Go on"

Not really a question, but still a response that gets Tanya to continue explaining.

OK - a few testers to finish this section:

Team Communications                 
 
 

 


Online training Module 2: Questioning and Listening skills

Preparing yourself
At Bob's first meeting with Tanya, he asks: "I know that one of your goals is to be more confident when you're dealing with senior managers. How do you get on with your own team leader?"