When was the last time you asked a question, was it to clarify your confusion, or understand something better? maybe even to ridicule someone’s plight?

Most often we tend to view the art of questioning in a negative light and that is because we are discouraged from asking them right from a young age assuming that they are of bad intent. Constructive questioning- a good questioning skill however always benefits both the speaker and the listener. The listener should be an active listener. It is important to practice constructive questioning as it is fundamental to having and exercising critical understanding.

The art of questioning begins with employing an empathetic personality, which is the reason for generating active listening, inclined towards the client’s needs, this quality helps us to frame appropriate solutions based on their needs. It doesn’t necessarily apply only to consulting or counseling firms but it is applicable in all fields as a marketer, business executive, and even in a managerial role, asking the right questions deepens understanding and generates better results.

What makes a question a great question?

Good Background Research

It is better to be well-informed about a particular subject before forming a question, since as executives or just starting work in an industry; it is good to know the entire subject you are dealing with. Our questions can be limited to just informational exchanges or clarifications without the deeper subject knowledge. To have an answer to those questions you had asked is equally important as well. This act of being well-researched before diving into questions benefits us and our organization.

Noteworthy Pointers

While questioning can be quite easy, it is necessary to keep in mind the tone of voice and take the nature of the participants in a group into account. It ultimately depends on your surroundings and the type of people present. It is a well-known fact that people are more willing to answer openly to questions in a casual environment and may feel pressured in a strictly social setting hence, if our goal is to build relations and increase the growth of the company it is important to check the tone, know the audience and be aware of the environment to learn and master the art of questioning.