Create Your Personal Questioning Style

This Element is an excerpt from The Art of Asking: Ask Better Questions, Get Better Answers (9780137144242) by Terry J. Fadem. Available in print and digital formats.

How to develop your own personal questioning style–and when to abandon it for a whole different approach.

Most managers have a general style when questioning people. It is their default mode. It’s a habit. If a manager consistently uses one style, people start to rely on it. This is positive because it presents a consistent face for people to react to. Consistency is valuable in normal business settings. Sometimes, however, it might prevent a manager from gaining new perspectives or reacting to new circumstances.