If you're a Parent or a Manager you'll find this article to be good, practical, usable tips that you can apply right away with your kids or your subordinates and I encourage you to practice it out and see the difference.
"Ask Questions that are Open-Ended rather than Closed-Ended."
For example at home your ask your child a very simple question: "Are you having a good time?" or "Did you have a good day?" "Did you like the food?" are close-ended questions. They only require a "yes" or "no" answer. "What things did you enjoy doing?" is open-ended; As is "What was good about your day?" or "Tell me about your favorite food."
Open-ended questions invites your children to engage in a dialogue with you. They allow your kids to give more thoughtful responses.The more we can allow our children to do things for themselves, the more strongly we communicate the message that, "I believe in your ability and growing skills."
As you get in the habit of using the language of responsibility, you'll be able to see tangible evidence of your children's growing sense of independence. When we ask our children for their ideas and suggestions
we are often surprised by the creative practical solutions they present. Our kids are more likely to follow through with the solutions when they have helped create them.
Friends, isn't the same true for Organizations also?
For example, You as a Boss / Manager instead of asking close ended questions to which the down line is indifferent, ask open-ended questions like "What do you think we can do on customer service issue? " or "Tell me your views about the improvement in the product". By doing so you would start being a Leader and your team would get a feeling of ownership.
"Yes", asking open-ended question will require your conscious effort and a lot of alertness.
So the next time you are dealing with your child or your subordinate/employee/down line just take a PAUSE and ask the right OPEN ENDED QUESTION, and you will find your RELATIONSHIP IMPROVES tremendously.
Pls. share your feedback on the same.
Shabbar Suterwala
Communication Skills Material
From India, Mumbai
41"Ask Questions that are Open-Ended rather than Closed-Ended."
For example at home your ask your child a very simple question: "Are you having a good time?" or "Did you have a good day?" "Did you like the food?" are close-ended questions. They only require a "yes" or "no" answer. "What things did you enjoy doing?" is open-ended; As is "What was good about your day?" or "Tell me about your favorite food."
Open-ended questions invites your children to engage in a dialogue with you. They allow your kids to give more thoughtful responses.The more we can allow our children to do things for themselves, the more strongly we communicate the message that, "I believe in your ability and growing skills."
As you get in the habit of using the language of responsibility, you'll be able to see tangible evidence of your children's growing sense of independence. When we ask our children for their ideas and suggestions
we are often surprised by the creative practical solutions they present. Our kids are more likely to follow through with the solutions when they have helped create them.
Friends, isn't the same true for Organizations also?
For example, You as a Boss / Manager instead of asking close ended questions to which the down line is indifferent, ask open-ended questions like "What do you think we can do on customer service issue? " or "Tell me your views about the improvement in the product". By doing so you would start being a Leader and your team would get a feeling of ownership.
"Yes", asking open-ended question will require your conscious effort and a lot of alertness.
So the next time you are dealing with your child or your subordinate/employee/down line just take a PAUSE and ask the right OPEN ENDED QUESTION, and you will find your RELATIONSHIP IMPROVES tremendously.
Pls. share your feedback on the same.
Shabbar Suterwala
Communication Skills Material
From India, Mumbai
@ Shabbar Suterwala
I am agreeing with your views...
We are mainly using this while conducitng Incident Investigations... While interviewing the vitnesses, etc the open ended questions will help a lot... At the end if required we may can use the open ended questions also....
Nice write up...
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
I am agreeing with your views...
We are mainly using this while conducitng Incident Investigations... While interviewing the vitnesses, etc the open ended questions will help a lot... At the end if required we may can use the open ended questions also....
Nice write up...
With regards,
Dipil Kumar V
From India
Re: Communication Skills - Open Ended Questions
@ Shabbar Suterwala
I agree with Dipil that we use a lot of it with Incident Investigations and you regarding managers & parents communication with subordinates & children.
Normally when we communicate with subordinates & children we just instruct what is to be done but most often do not give details as to WHY it should be done.
In my training with regards to communication, I always give examples of the situation nowadays & when I was young. In my younger days, if I were to ask WHY, the resulting answer would be "do it or you get 2 rosy cheeks" but with my kids I cannot that but answer all the WHYs until there are no more WHY.
My experience is that in current business environments people look at results and therefore they work with blinkers on and not enough COMMUNICATING with one another verbally. There are even cases where people who sit next to each other, talk through e-mails.
From Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
@ Shabbar Suterwala
I agree with Dipil that we use a lot of it with Incident Investigations and you regarding managers & parents communication with subordinates & children.
Normally when we communicate with subordinates & children we just instruct what is to be done but most often do not give details as to WHY it should be done.
In my training with regards to communication, I always give examples of the situation nowadays & when I was young. In my younger days, if I were to ask WHY, the resulting answer would be "do it or you get 2 rosy cheeks" but with my kids I cannot that but answer all the WHYs until there are no more WHY.
My experience is that in current business environments people look at results and therefore they work with blinkers on and not enough COMMUNICATING with one another verbally. There are even cases where people who sit next to each other, talk through e-mails.
From Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
I feel both Open ended and Closed questions (may be also called as Leading Questions) are equally important for communication. The moment a person answers YES or NO and the other person (receiver) stops at that answer, we can easily say the communication is not still 'UP'. The receiver now should continue with one or two open ended questions. Again he/she should (or can) go to closed questions. And keep changing the pattern....
The main principle I am suggesting is that communication should lead to something (might be to find a solution to a problem, to understand other person's needs, etc.). Until it is achieved, the receiver should keep changing his/her questioning styles. The aim of the whole exercise should not be to nail down the other person with his/her answers (and taking advantage of some, negligible contradictions). There will be many contradictions when the questioning style changes. The receiver should be prepared to receive answers in a different tone/meaning/context etc.
Rgds,
Govinda Padaki
From India, Bangalore
The main principle I am suggesting is that communication should lead to something (might be to find a solution to a problem, to understand other person's needs, etc.). Until it is achieved, the receiver should keep changing his/her questioning styles. The aim of the whole exercise should not be to nail down the other person with his/her answers (and taking advantage of some, negligible contradictions). There will be many contradictions when the questioning style changes. The receiver should be prepared to receive answers in a different tone/meaning/context etc.
Rgds,
Govinda Padaki
From India, Bangalore
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