17 Common Questioning Mistakes We Make!

Asking questions is fundamental to communication, yet we often underestimate its complexity. How we ask questions at the office, home, or school can significantly influence the quality of the answers we receive and how we are perceived by others.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers–Voltaire (or Pierre Marc Gaston de Lévis)

Unfortunately, we commonly make mistakes when asking questions, such as being unclear, vague, or overly complex, which leads to miscommunication, frustration, and sometimes loss of trust.

Good questions are essential because they facilitate understanding, encourage thoughtful dialogue, and help us understand different perspectives. Therefore, you must be more aware of the 17 mistakes when asking questions.

Mistakes

1. Not Asking Clear Questions

Ambiguous or poorly worded questions can confuse the respondent and lead to irrelevant or inaccurate answers. Clear questions allow the respondent to understand exactly what is being asked and respond effectively.

Example:

Vague: “What do you think about the project?”

Clear: “What is your opinion on the timeline of the project, and do you foresee any major risks?“

2. Not Providing the Context

Without context, it’s difficult for the respondent to grasp the purpose of the question or provide meaningful answers. A brief question without a background can leave them guessing what you need.

Example:

Without context: “What’s the deadline?”

With context: “We’re finalizing the marketing campaign. What’s the deadline for submitting final designs to the client?“

3. Making Statements Instead of Asking Questions

Statements can be mistaken for opinions or observations rather than requests for information. To clarify your intent, phrase the statement as a question and invite a thoughtful response.

Example:

Statement: “This software isn’t very intuitive.”

Question: “What are your thoughts on improving the user experience of this software?“

4. Asking Multiple Questions at Once

Asking too many questions at once can overwhelm the respondent and make it unclear which question to address first. Breaking questions into smaller, manageable parts leads to better answers.

Example:

Multiple questions: “What’s the deadline, who’s responsible, and what’s the budget?”

Improved: “What’s the deadline for this task? Then, could you clarify who’s responsible?“

5. Using Overly Complex Language

Questions filled with jargon or unnecessarily technical terms can confuse the respondent, especially if they are unfamiliar with the terminology. Simple, straightforward language is more effective.

Example:

Complex: “Can you explicate the methodology employed in this heuristic evaluation?”

Simple: “Can you explain the approach used for evaluating this process?“

6. Being Vague About What They Need

A vague question can result in a broad or unhelpful answer. Providing specifics about what you need helps the respondent give a relevant and focused response.

Example:

Vague: “What’s your opinion on this?”

Specific: “What’s your opinion on how the new policy will affect team productivity?“

7. Failing to Consider the Audience

If the question doesn’t align with the respondent’s knowledge or expertise, they may struggle to answer or misunderstand your intent. Tailoring questions to the audience ensures better engagement.

Example:

Inappropriate for audience: “How does the backend API communicate with the frontend?” (asked to a designer)

Appropriate: “How would you like the design to reflect the API’s functionality?“

8. Asking Leading Questions

Leading questions are biased and suggest a preferred answer, which can distort the respondent’s input. Neutral phrasing ensures unbiased and honest responses.

Example:

Leading: “Don’t you think this new process is a waste of time?”

Neutral: “What are your thoughts on the effectiveness of the new process?“

9. Interrupting or Not Listening During Follow-Up

Interrupting or not fully listening shows a lack of respect and can discourage open communication. Active listening fosters trust and ensures you get the information you need.

Example:

Scenario: You ask someone for their opinion but interrupt halfway with another question. This disrupts their thought process and leaves the original question unanswered.

10. Assuming Knowledge or Understanding

Assuming the respondent has the same knowledge as you can lead to confusion. Clarify terms or concepts to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Example:

Assumption: “Do you think the DCF calculation is accurate?”

Clarified: “Do you think the discounted cash flow (DCF) calculation accurately represents the project’s value?“

11. Not Being Respectful or Polite

Questions framed in an accusatory or dismissive tone can offend the respondent and lead to unproductive communication. Politeness encourages open and constructive dialogue.

Example:

Rude: “Why are you always late with your reports?”

Polite: “Can we discuss any challenges you’re facing that might be delaying the reports?“

12. Overloading the Question with Details

Overloading a question with excessive details can make it difficult for the respondent to identify the core issue. Keep the question focused and concise.

Example:

Overloaded: “With all the new hires, budget changes, and system updates, do you think we’ll meet our goals for this fiscal year, and if not, what do you think we should change?”

Improved: “Do you think we’ll meet our goals this fiscal year? If not, what adjustments would help?“

13. Not Specifying Constraints or Boundaries

Not mentioning constraints like deadlines, budget, or scope can result in irrelevant answers or solutions. Providing boundaries ensures focused responses.

Example:

Unclear: “What are your suggestions for improving sales?”

Clear: “What are your suggestions for improving sales within the next quarter, considering our current budget?“

14. Expecting Immediate Answers to Complex Questions

Complex questions often require time for analysis and thoughtful consideration. Allowing time for a response ensures better insights.

Example:

Unreasonable: “What’s the best strategy to grow our market share by 20%?” (asked in a meeting and expecting an answer on the spot)

Reasonable: “Can you brainstorm strategies to grow our market share by 20% and share your ideas by next week?“

15. Ignoring Non-Verbal Cues or Context in Person

Ignoring body language, tone, or other non-verbal cues in face-to-face communication can lead to misunderstandings. Pay attention to ensure your question is well-received.

Example:

Scenario: You ask someone for feedback but don’t notice their hesitance or discomfort, which might indicate they need reassurance to speak openly.

16. Failing to Clarify After an Unclear Response

If the respondent’s answer is unclear, not following up for clarification can leave gaps in understanding. Asking follow-up questions ensures mutual clarity.

Example:

Unclear response: “It should be fine.”

Follow-up: “When you say ‘fine,’ do you mean the timeline is achievable as planned?“

17. Repeating Questions Unnecessarily

Repeating the same question without acknowledging previous answers can frustrate the respondent and waste time. Clarify instead if you need more information.

Example:

Scenario: You keep asking, “What’s the budget?” even after the respondent answered because you didn’t clarify whether the budget includes overheads. Instead, say, “Does the budget you mentioned include overheads?”

Study Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

1. Why is asking clear questions important?

2. What does it mean to “provide context” when asking a question?

3. How can making statements instead of asking questions lead to miscommunication?

4. What is the problem with asking multiple questions at once?

5. Why should you avoid using overly complex language in questions?

6. How does failing to consider your audience affect your questions?

7. What is the difference between a leading question and a neutral question?

8. Why is active listening crucial when asking follow-up questions?

9. Why should you avoid assuming the respondent has the same knowledge as you?

10. Why is it important to specify constraints or boundaries in your questions?

Answer Key

1. Clear questions ensure that the respondent understands exactly what is being asked, which leads to more accurate and relevant answers. Ambiguous questions can confuse the respondent and lead to irrelevant or inaccurate answers.

2. Providing context means giving background information so the respondent understands the purpose of your question. Without context, respondents may not grasp the purpose of the question and struggle to provide a meaningful response.

3. Statements can be mistaken for opinions or observations, rather than requests for information. To clarify, you should rephrase statements as questions that invite thoughtful responses from the respondent.

4. Asking multiple questions at once can overwhelm the respondent, making it unclear which question to address first. Breaking complex questions into smaller, manageable parts leads to clearer and more effective answers.

5. Overly complex language, filled with jargon or technical terms, can confuse respondents, especially if they aren’t familiar with the terminology. Simple and straightforward language is more effective at ensuring clear communication.

6. Failing to consider your audience can result in respondents struggling to answer or misunderstanding the question if it doesn’t align with their knowledge or expertise. Tailoring questions to the audience’s understanding ensures better engagement and responses.

7. A leading question is biased and suggests a preferred answer, whereas a neutral question is unbiased and seeks an honest response. Neutral phrasing avoids distorting the respondent’s input and allows for more objective feedback.

8. Active listening fosters trust and ensures that you receive the information that you need. Interrupting or not fully listening may disrupt their thought process, leaving your initial question unanswered.

9. Assuming the respondent has the same level of knowledge as you can lead to confusion or inaccurate answers. Clarifying terms and concepts before posing the question ensures that everyone is on the same page.

10. Specifying constraints or boundaries like deadlines, budget, or scope helps ensure that answers and solutions are relevant. Not doing so can result in irrelevant or unusable information that doesn’t fit within the project’s parameters.

Essay Questions

Instructions: Choose one of the following questions to explore in an essay format.

1. Discuss the significance of clear questioning in effective communication, drawing upon examples of both good and bad practices from the source material.

2. Analyze how different questioning mistakes can lead to miscommunication, frustration, and loss of trust, with specific references to how these mistakes manifest in professional settings.

3. Explain how understanding audience knowledge and background is essential to asking effective questions, and describe how a lack of awareness can lead to unproductive conversations.

4. Explore the relationship between the tone of a question and its effectiveness, and detail how politeness and respect can improve communication, while negativity can hinder it.

5. Evaluate the importance of active listening and follow-up questions in the pursuit of clear answers and identify techniques to improve engagement while avoiding question repetition.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Ambiguous: Open to more than one interpretation; unclear or inexact.

• Context: The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of questioning provides the background necessary to understand its meaning.

• Leading Question: A question that prompts or encourages a desired answer, usually by phrasing it in a way that implies a particular response.

• Neutral Question: A question that is phrased to avoid influencing or biasing the respondent’s answer; unbiased.

• Active Listening: Paying close attention to a person’s words and non-verbal cues, with the intent of understanding and not just hearing.

• Jargon: Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group, and may be difficult for outsiders to understand.

• Overloading: Including excessive details in a question, making it difficult for the respondent to understand the core issue.

• Constraints: Limitations or restrictions, often related to budget, time, or scope, that influence the range of possible solutions or answers.

• Non-Verbal Cues: Signals that are communicated without words, such as body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice.

• Follow-Up Questions: Questions that are posed after an initial answer to further clarify or gain a better understanding of the response.