Blog Post
NickRussell
Community Member
Great piece Jodi!
This is something we all need to learn. I would normally differentiate the two categories of questions as 'closed' and 'open' questions. 'Closed' questions only generate yes or no answers and do not stimulate discussion. The simple conclusion to this is that 'closed' questions are generally bad in the business situations you describe. On the other hand we should not forget the manipulative power of closed questions. Remember those irritating encyclopedia and life assurance salesmen with their leading questions?
'You wouldn't want your family and children to be left without any financial support, would you?
This is something we all need to learn. I would normally differentiate the two categories of questions as 'closed' and 'open' questions. 'Closed' questions only generate yes or no answers and do not stimulate discussion. The simple conclusion to this is that 'closed' questions are generally bad in the business situations you describe. On the other hand we should not forget the manipulative power of closed questions. Remember those irritating encyclopedia and life assurance salesmen with their leading questions?
'You wouldn't want your family and children to be left without any financial support, would you?
JodiSansone
2 years agoCommunity Member
LOL! Open ended version: "How would you feel if you left your family and children without any financial support?" Thanks for the comments and how you differentiate the two. I try to practice using open end questions because my instinct is to seek closure and a decision too soon. If I am leading a discussion I forget that I may have thought about things longer than my discussion partners, and I'm ready to move on, but they haven't had the benefit of considering things yet.