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Think ahead -

The purpose of questions is, of course, to extract information. To that end, it is a good idea to think ahead and work out what you hope to learn from a conversation.

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Think ahead -

Jotting down the main points and questions you want to ask will help you steer the conversation without having to stop and think about what to say next.

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Tailor your questions -

General or vague questions can be a little overwhelming to answer, and they often don’t prompt helpful responses. Try to tailor your questions to the individual where possible.

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Tailor your questions -

For example, rather than “What inspired you to write that novel?” try, “What inspired you to write a novel about three kids who attend a school for witches and wizards?”

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Ask open-ended questions -

Open-ended questions that begin with words such as “what,” “how,” and “why?” are likely to prompt longer and more detailed answers. They can’t really be answered in one word.

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Ask open-ended questions -

People add more color when answering these questions, and you are therefore less likely to make judgments or assumptions based on something the person hasn’t said.

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Ask direct questions -

If you need to establish facts, however, it is a good idea to use direct questions that require a short, specific answer.

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Ask direct questions -

Examples of such questions might include, “When did you upload those files?” “Who was the lead on this project?” or “What time did you arrive at the party?”

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Choose your opening -

It's best to go for a broad question to open a conversation. Simple and general opening questions help put people at ease and get the conversation flowing.

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Choose your opening -

Examples of opening questions might include, “How did you get started on this project?” or “What are you most excited about this week?”

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Get more specific -

Once the conversation is off to a great start, you can follow up on your opening questions with more specific questions. Try to learn something new from each response.

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Get more specific -

Listen carefully to each answer the other person gives and ask questions based on the detail in their answer. This will take you to the clearest, most honest answer (assuming it’s a particular piece of information you’re after).

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Build up to sensitive topics -

If you have to broach a sensitive topic with someone, most of the time it is best to build up to it. Start with general questions to build a rapport and then move to the more difficult questions.

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Build up to sensitive topics -

For example, if you need to talk to someone about why they were fired, you might start by asking, “How did you like your old job?” before moving on to the topic of being let go.

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Ask for clarification -

If you don’t understand something that the other person just said, don’t be afraid to ask for further explanation. It’s perfectly normal not to grasp something the first time you hear it.

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Ask for clarification -

It can be a good idea to repeat what the person said back to them. That way you’ll be sure you understood and the other person will be sure you’re listening and paying attention.

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One at a time -

Try your best to ask one question at a time. Stringing questions together or asking multi-layered questions will only confuse the person and prompt confused responses.

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One at a time -

It is equally important to let the person finish their answer to one question before asking the next. Otherwise they might get confused or miss something important.

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Get the tone right -

It is best to use a casual tone when asking people for information. If you sound uptight or stressed, people are less likely to answer honestly and you won’t get the information you need.

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Get the tone right -

You might like to tell the person that you’ll be having a casual conversation and that they can change their answers at any time. That way the person will feel less pressure.

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Listen properly -

It is important when interviewing someone that you listen properly to their answers. Allow the person to answer freely and without interruption.

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Listen properly -

Body language is important: turn towards the person and keep your arms uncrossed. Maintain eye contact and smile from time to time to put the person at ease.

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Choose your moment -

There isn’t necessarily a right time to ask questions, but there is definitely a wrong time. Try to avoid tense or stressful situations, and keep distractions to a minimum.

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Choose your moment -

It is a good idea to plan ahead and make sure you leave enough time for the conversation, so that you don’t have to worry about rushing.

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Avoid rhetorical questions -

Rhetorical questions are questions that are asked without expecting an answer. They are often used to make a point, but it’s a good idea to avoid them during a candid conversation.

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Avoid rhetorical questions -

Focus instead on crafting questions that are designed to prompt a helpful response and fill the conversation with those.

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Sound of silence -

Some people are afraid of silence and do everything they can to avoid the quiet moments in a conversation. In reality, however, pauses are natural, and you can make the most of them.

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Sound of silence -

Use the time in between questions to reflect on the person’s responses and give them a chance to relax and prepare for the next question.

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Reflect -

When preparing for an interview or conversation, it is a good idea to reflect on how you yourself would like to be asked questions.

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Reflect -

Think about how much time you would like to spend answering a given question, or whether you would even feel comfortable answering it at all.

Sources: (WikiHow) (Indeed)

See also: How to nail that first job interview or take a new career step

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