Communicate Effectively
New possibilities and opportunities stem from asking a specific type of question. Communicating effectively is achieved through asking a particular kind of question, too.
Let’s look at some different types of questions and how each type can support you in effective communication and understanding others.
Closed Questions
The most common type of question is closed questions, questions that can answer with yes or no. Although many people may expand on the yes or no when responding to a closed question, it’s essential to know that closed questions narrow a conversation and perspective and are helpful when confirming information.
Example: Do you think this is a good idea?
Judging Closed Questions
As the name implies, judging closed questions are questions generated from judging others and can be answered with yes or no. We find people tend to use these questions when being sarcastic or humorous at the expense of another, which is a form of judging.
Example: Did you really think this was a good idea?
Curious Open Questions – Your Superpower
With curious *open questions, the person asking the question doesn’t have an answer and doesn’t intend to judge or blame. The intention is to learn more and understand.
Curious, open questions promote inductive reasoning, which leads to an expansion of the conversation, where anything goes.
Example: What do you think of this idea?
*Open questions begin with who, what, where, when, and how.
Leading Open Questions
Open leading questions begin with the same words as curious, open questions but are not curious because the person asking the question already knows the answer.
Example: What were the reasons we decided this was a good idea?
In this case, the leader is aware of the answer and is asking to verify the team understands.
Judging Open Questions
Sometimes we think we are asking a curious, open question because we don’t know the answer. However, when the question contains negative words that convey judging, blaming, and shaming, we ask an open judging question.
This approach pushes the responder’s emotional buttons, triggering an outcome that does not generate curiosity or learning.
Example: How could you think this was a good idea? What’s wrong with you?
Although the leader may not know what’s happening, the question implies they do with a judging, blaming, and even shaming tone.
There is value for each type of question.
The key is to understand that the type of question you ask will influence the outcome of your conversation.
Understanding the different types of questions and when to use them will help you communicate more effectively as a leader.