When you coach, you need to find out things. Mostly, you get what you need by listening to your client. But sometimes you need more specific information, or wish to get to a point faster. You can do this by asking questions. Preferably – good questions.
There are many types of questions: Rhetoric questions, Though-provoking questions, Power questions and many more. An inquisitive question is the simplest one, aimed at revealing information. However, even asking a simple question can be done in different ways. Some are better then others.
An inquisitive question should give you the maximum amount of relevant information in the shortest possible time. Therefore, an inquisitive question must be focused, clear, and invite a similar answer.
Before you ask your client, ask yourself:
What exactly do I want to know?
Will my client understand what I am asking? Is he likely to give me the right answer?
A question should be I a one-sentence-format. You do not want your client’s attention to wander off while he is trying to follow a long preface. Also, do not add to your question any unnecessary information.
Good questions will get you to where you need go
To demonstrate that, let’s say that your client described some incident involving one of his workers having an accident, and you are not sure you understood his actions. You wish to understand why he saw it necessary to fire this employee on the spot:
Version 1: “What safety measures should your forklift driver take when driving on a wet surface?”
Version 2: “If your warehouse operator is working on the forklift and suddenly it starts to rain, what safety measure you instructed him to take in such a condition?”
Which do you think is a more effective question?
If you feel that your client may require extra explanations before he can answer, do it the opposite way; First, explain what you think he may not know, and then ask the questions. Like this:
“I am not familiar with forklift safety and I wish to understand this last example you gave a little better. What safety measures should your forklift driver take when driving on a wet surface?”
In most cases, it is better to lead with the question. The reason for that being that when you do so, your listener begins to think of the answer. Any additional information or clarification that you may add are assimilated in the context of of the question.
After you practice this way of asking for a while, it become a second nature and you no longer have to think about it. It saves a lot of time and confusion. For this very reason I often insist that students will use the exact same approach in class – lead with the question, and add the background later.
Try it.