To ask or not to ask?

My father in law has a marvellous way of asking questions - he starts with the word 'Question!'. And instantly I'm listening and paying attention.

Asking questions is a great way of confirming that your message has landed as intended with the person you're communicating with.

Open-ended questions prompt conversation and take your message from one-way information flow to a two-way discussion. They help your listener to think more deeply about your message, to assess and analyse it, and discover their own insights or questions.

Here are a few open-ended question examples:

- What do you know about this?

- What would you like to know now that I’ve shared this?

- How would you feel if x, y and z were to happen next?

- (If they have a question) What makes you say that?

- How open minded are you about this?

Feel free to channel my father in law with a heads up that you're coming in hot with a question. It drives me mad but it works a charm every time.