Have you ever wondered about questions? One of the most important things about questions is that they direct a person’s attention. Further, they can do so in a nonthreatening way. In the Sates, we are moving into the “hot and heavy” political season, and you will have ample opportunity to witness both the skillful and unskillful use of questions by reporters as they interview candidates.
In general, you will do well to avoid “why” and “why did/didn’t you” questions. “Why” leads to philosophical speculation, and while that might be OK for courses in philosophy, it won’t help if you desire a specific, actionable answer. “Why did/didn’t you” requires the other person to defend him or herself. The psychotherapeutic question, “How is that working for you,” allows others to decide for themselves whether the action in question is worth continuing.
Notice the way the following questions direct your attention in specific directions, and ask yourself how you would respond in a “real” situation.
- How long have you been interested in effective language usage?
- When did you first become interested in effective language usage?
- Who will benefit the most from your becoming more effective in using language?
- Where will you be able to use language more effectively?
- What will you tell others about using questions effectively?
The next time you have the opportunity to ask someone a question, notice the way the question sets the conversational “frame” and makes some answers appropriate and others less so. How much fun can you have with questions from now on?