Art Of Questioning: Understanding Different Types & Techniques

Asking questions is an important part of communication skills, whether in a job interview, at work, a classroom setting, or even a casual conversation. We ask questions to understand the problem better, conceptualize or comprehend before we dive into problem solving. The types of questions we ask and the techniques we use to ask them can significantly impact the information we receive and the effectiveness of our communication.

Asking questions can give you answers that will help you take charge of your work. We all would like mentors and bosses who guide us every step of the way; however, that isn’t always possible. By asking questions, you can gather more information, which will equip you to deliver better results. In this blog post, I’d like to dive into the different types of questions and explore questioning techniques to help you become a skilled communicator. 

Top 5 Common Types Of Questions: 

1. Open-Ended Questions:

Open-ended questions are asked to get a bird’s eye view. You can expect elaborate answers, which provide more insights and opportunities for discussion. When we feel lost or confused and need more than just action items, ask open-ended questions. The answers will help you understand the WHY behind the task and potential consequences of doing something a certain way or not doing a certain way. Some examples of open-ended questions are:

What are your thoughts on the current market trends?

What does a day in the life of (insert role name) look like?

Can you explain the process followed to arrive at these recommendations/ solutions?

What is your plan for the summer vacation?

2. Closed-Ended Questions:

Closed-ended questions can have a binary answer with a simple "yes or no" or a specific and direct response. They are asked to gather precise details or to confirm information. When we try to gather information either at a personal level or professional, these close-ended questions come in handy. These questions can be used to gather basic intel on anyone, which can be further used to have lengthy conversations. A short example,

Me: Where are you from?

Her: Mumbai

Me: That is incredible. I am from Mumbai…..

Now, I can take this conversation further to ask more about her and get to know this person. I might ask her about her profession, where she lives, find common ground and build a friendship.

If I wasn’t from Mumbai. I could ask her how she likes it there, if she had been to my city and so on. Personal conversations can be made easy using questions.

Pro-Tip:

Everyone loves talking about themselves.

They probably want someone to talk to and you could be that person on that day.

Do not hesitate to build relationships using these questions.

Some other examples of close-ended questions can be:

Is the meeting at 3 pm?

Could you share the meeting deck?

How many people are employed by XYZ Pvt. Ltd.?

Have you applied for your holiday in the system?

3. Probing Questions:

Probing questions explore deeper into a topic to gather additional information. They are often asked to clarify vague responses or to uncover underlying issues. During meetings we all have doubts, remember no question is a dumb question. Asking questions to clarify your doubts will help you be on the same page as your team, mentor or boss and improve the quality of your work.

Pro-Tip:

You can chose to ask these questions to the right person on the team. You could ask if they have time for a few more questions if you feel hesitant. You can alternatively suggest that you can send out an email and can connect later or receive response via email if that is suitable.

Examples of probing questions are as follows: :

Can you elaborate further on that point?

Could you explain your process step by step with an example?

Why has it become crucial to resolve this problem now?

Could you explain the thought process behind this suggested change?

How will this change impact my current role?

4. Clarifying questions

Clarifying questions are asked to recap information and important talking points to ensure everyone understands the details. People ask clarifying questions at the end of a presentation or meeting to confirm details. It can be stressful to be in situations where you have been assigned a task, but you’re unsure on how to go about it. During moments like these it is best to ask clarifying questions. These questions can be as follows:

Before we finish the meeting, can I confirm if the deliverable is due this Friday?

I will paraphrase our discussion to make sure I have understood the requirements. Please let me know if I have misunderstood or forgotten anything.

Could we run through our action items and designate owners for tasks due next week?

5. Leading Questions:

Leading questions are framed in a way that subtly guides someone towards a particular answer. They usually influence the perspective and may not always result in unbiased responses. A lot of times during presentations and meetings, you have to ask leading questions so that people can see and understand things from your point of view. Examples of leading questions are as follows:

Wouldn’t you agree that the product sales have increased since we upgraded our app?

Would you say you have performed well in the past year?

Would you rate your experience with us as 5-star? If not, then what could we have done differently to make your experience better?

Pro tip:

Do not hesitate to ask questions.

No questions are stupid.

If you don’t ask, you would not learn or know better for the future.

You can additionally provide a background before asking your question so that the person answering knows why you asked the question. For example:

I have worked in the service industry before and they did not insist on having a purchase order against an invoice. Could you explain why we insist on having a purchase order in the manufacturing industry?

OR

Thank you for explaining the step by step process I must follow in our system to meet the expected outcome. As I am new to using this system, who can I reach out to if I get stuck? Is there a video recording or a documentation that I can review while I use the system to make sure that I get the desired outcome? 

In the above scenarios, you are showcasing your proactive nature, thirst for learning new things and openness to being wrong during the growth phase. Most companies will appreciate your transparency and curiosity.

Questioning Techniques:

Let’s explore different techniques that can be employed to ask questions effectively. By understanding these approaches, you can become a more adept communicator, interviewer, problem-solver, and leader.

Active Listening:

Active listening involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. It's about being present in the conversation and showing genuine interest. Active listening can also lead to better problem-solving and decision-making. When team members feel heard and understood, they are more likely to contribute their ideas and work together to find solutions. 

If you would like to learn how to apply it in day to day life do check out my blog Active Listening to know more.

Reflective Listening:

Reflective listening is paraphrasing or summarizing the speaker's words to demonstrate understanding and encourage further discussion. It shows empathy and helps build rapport. When paraphrasing, make sure to use your own words and avoid simply repeating what the speaker has said. This can help to show that you have truly understood what they are saying.  An example of reflective listening can be as follows:

Speaker: I'm feeling overwhelmed with my work.

Listener: It sounds like you're under a lot of stress. Is it due to your workload? Can you tell me more about the challenges you're facing?

Socratic Questioning:

Socratic questioning asks thought-provoking questions to stimulate critical thinking and encourage the respondent to think about their beliefs and assumptions. Do not forget to ask open-ended questions. This can help the speaker to share more about their ideas and experiences and gives you the opportunity to ask further clarifying questions to understand the speaker's requirements. Some examples of Socratic questioning are:

What evidence do you have to support that conclusion?

How does this decision align with your long-term goals?

Pro tip:

Be Curious.

This will go a long way in how you ask questions and to steepen your learning agility.

Most of my lessons were learnt on the job and by making mistakes.

You know types of questions and how to listen. Now by trial and error you will learn which type of question to use to get the most information and understand to improve your performance at work, in class or in casual conversations. 

Test this out with your friends and family without their knowledge to see what kind of responses you receive to compare and contrast against how they responded before.

Show Empathy.

We all start somewhere. So do not be annoyed at juniors who ask questions.

You can direct them to do more research and come back to you or guide them in what area they should look for answers but do not shush them off. 

Encourage them to ask questions. If they aren’t asking the right questions or the right sequence of questions then tell them how to do better rather than belittle them.

Show empathy to your client as well. Sometimes they too do not have the answers and come to the table confused about what to expect.

Give them time and let them come back to you with answers to your questions. 

Know your goal.

Questioning should lead you to your goal rather than away from it. Curiosity should be shown in the right places for best possible results. 

Conclusion:

Effective questioning is a skill that can be perfected, just like listening skills, through practice and effort. By understanding and learning different questions and techniques, you can better your communication skills, deepen your understanding of others, and navigate through various situations confidently and clearly. It doesn’t matter if you're conducting interviews, leading meetings, or engaging in everyday conversations, the art of asking insightful questions is the key to personal and professional growth.