{"id":2341,"date":"2020-07-15T18:43:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T18:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insidejobscoach.com\/?p=2341"},"modified":"2020-07-16T00:28:45","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T00:28:45","slug":"how-do-you-ask-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insidejobscoach.com\/how-do-you-ask-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Ask?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Have you ever tried to get information from someone who just wasn\u2019t giving you the answers you were looking for?\u00a0 You kept asking questions, but for some reason communication wasn\u2019t happening?<\/p>\n
If this sounds like a familiar situation in your life, it might be because of the way you are asking your questions.\u00a0 Check out Julie\u2019s story below and see if it sounds like what\u2019s happening in your world.<\/p>\n
Julie was frustrated.\u00a0 She was trying to get information from her employees and clients, but they weren\u2019t giving her the answers she was looking for.\u00a0 She thought they weren\u2019t listening to her.\u00a0 However, as we worked together it became apparent that she also had this trouble in her personal life, when she communicated with her husband, children and friends.<\/p>\n
As we explored the situation it became apparent that the problem was in the way Julie asked questions. Instead of asking what she wanted to know and letting the other person give her an answer, she often asked the question with the answer imbedded in it.\u00a0 She turned a statement into a question, and the listener ended up confused about what she wanted to know.\u00a0 For example, she would say, \u201cThe specs are finished, right?\u201d when she really wanted to know the complete status of the specs.\u00a0 When she asked questions this way, she made assumptions that might not be correct, and set herself up to be wrong (the listener could either validate what she said \u2013 \u201cYes, it is completed\u201d, or worse, \u201cNo, it\u2019s not ready yet.\u201d)<\/p>\n
This method of questioning also invalidates the person she is talking with by assuming that Julie has to give them the answer.<\/p>\n
Julie realized that in order to obtain the information she wanted she had to ask the question correctly.\u00a0 She learned that there are several ways to ask a question.\u00a0 Some of the most common of these are:<\/p>\n
Julie realized that she often asked closed, informational questions when what she wanted was details.\u00a0 However, in order to get the complete status of the specs and to learn what was going on with them, an Open-Ended question is what she needed to use.\u00a0 She now understands that before she can ask the appropriate question, she has to know what type of information she wants to receive.\u00a0 If she wants a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d, a simple date or place, or an opinion, she will ask informational questions.\u00a0 However, when she wants an overview, she will phrase her question in an open-ended way designed to elicit more information.<\/p>\n
Julie experimented with asking more open-ended questions and was happily surprised to find her communication with her clients, employees, family and friends was flowing better and she was getting the information she wanted.<\/p>\n
So, you might want to look at the way you ask questions.\u00a0 Are people confused about how to respond, or are you clear so they understand what you really want to know?<\/p>\n
Please comment so others can benefit from your wisdom and experience.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Sandy is now offering a FREE Coaching Call, so you can see what Coaching is all about.\u00a0 Please email her at Sandy@insidejobscoach.com<\/a> and put FREE Call in the Subject Line.\u00a0 She will get right back to you to schedule your call.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n For FREE worksheets on ways to empower yourself, see the Resources Page on our Inside Jobs Coach<\/a> website.\u00a0 Also be sure to check out our Books and Programs page.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’d like to bring positive changes into your life, we have the perfect thing for you. \u00a0Check out The Rapid Power Pack<\/a>, and begin to create the life of your dreams.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n