You would like to ask questions, but are you worried that you understand the answer perfectly or are you afraid of what they will think if you ask? Here are some suggestions for asking more varied and relevant questions that will help not only you, but also others, to understand and deepen the information just explained.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Basic Technique
Step 1. Explain your misunderstanding
Give an excuse to explain why you "got confused". This may not necessarily be true, but it should hide the fact that you may not have been paying full attention.
- "I'm sorry, I think I didn't hear you right …"
- "That explanation is unclear to me …"
- "I think I lost something while I was taking notes here …"
Step 2. State what you know
You must indicate something you know about the subject. This will show that you understand this and make you look smarter.
- "… I understand that King Henry VIII wanted to get away from the Catholic Church so that he could get a divorce …"
- "… I know that work includes benefits …"
- "… I know that consumption is increasing at all levels …"
Step 3. Now state what you don't know
- "… but I don't understand how it led to the creation of the Church of England".
- "… but it is not clear to me whether or not it includes dental costs."
- "… but I think I am lost because we are responding in this way".
Step 4. You must give the impression that you are sure of yourself
It must seem like I was fully awake and totally alert - it was just a communication problem.
Step 5. Try to prepare a replica
If they answer you and tell you that the information has been given clearly, you need to have an answer ready that makes you seem smarter.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you said something completely different and I thought it was a little out of place. I didn't mean to be rude thinking you were wrong. It's my fault, I'm sorry." And so on…
Step 6. Speak as best you can
When speaking, use correct Italian with decent grammar and reasoned vocabulary. Do your best. This will make you and your question seem smarter in the long run.
Part 2 of 5: Regulating According to the Environment
Step 1. Ask questions during an interview
When you ask questions of a potential employer, you want to show that you really think about how you work and how you should work well in that particular environment. Show them that you are aligned with their corporate policies and values. Ask questions like:
- "Can you describe a typical week in this position to me?"
- "What opportunities will I have to grow and progress?"
- "How does this company manage its employees?"
Step 2. Ask a candidate questions
When asking questions of a candidate, you should look for signs that tell you what type of employee they will be. Avoid standard questions, because you would get a prepackaged answer rather than the straightforward truth, which is more likely to emerge when you ask very specific questions. Try asking questions like:
- "What kinds of jobs wouldn't you like to do in this position?" This question reveals the weaknesses you can expect.
- "How do you think this job will have to change over the next five years? And ten?" This question reveals how the respondent responds to changes and whether they are able to plan ahead.
- "When is it okay not to follow the rules?" This question is perfect for evaluating the candidate's sense of ethics and whether or not he can adapt to complex situations or if he tends to remain rigid.
Step 3. Ask questions online
People will be more willing to answer your questions online if they are, for all intents and purposes, reasonable questions. People don't want to answer something that you could find out on your own in a snap with a Google search (or wikiHow!). To further increase your odds, read the following sections. In the meantime, make sure you:
- Always do basic research first to try to answer your question.
- Keep calm. Getting angry or agitated and showing it in writing will generally make people ignore you or make fun of you.
- Use spelling and grammar in the best way. This will show that you are serious and that you expect a serious response. If you're unsure about spelling or grammar, try typing the term in Word or Google Docs to get a quick spelling and grammar check.
Step 4. Ask questions during a business meeting
The questions asked in business meetings can differ greatly, depending on the type of business and your role. If the above and below sections don't help you, at least you can follow these basic ideas:
- Ask questions that bring out content and solve problems. Ask if the meeting is focused on the activity in question or not. Try to understand how the topic of discussion relates to the problems the company is facing.
- Get to the point. Don't digress, because people would lose their attention and remain indifferent.
- Look to the future. Ask questions about how the company needs to adapt for the future and what major obstacles it will need to overcome to succeed.
Part 3 of 5: Refine Your Question
Step 1. Hit the mark
To ask a smart question it is very important to have a lot of information to start with, to know a little of what you are talking about and not to ask a stupid question. There are generally no silly questions, but if you can find an answer on your own with a quick and easy Google search, well… then that means it's pretty silly. Read below how to really refine your question before asking it.
Step 2. Consider your goal
You need to decide what is the goal you are aiming for with your question. What will you get with the answer, for real? This will help you decide what information you need from the person you are addressing. The more specific you know about what you need, the smarter your questions will be and the brighter you will seem.
Step 3. Compare what you know with what you don't know
Before asking, think about what you know and ignore on the subject. Do you have a lot of information and just need small details? Do you know almost nothing? The more information you have on a topic, the smarter your questions can be.
Step 4. Look for points of misunderstanding
Examine what you know about the subject and what confuses you. Are you sure of the things you know? Often what we think we know prompts questions that don't really have answers because our initial information was wrong. It may be a good idea to check some essential facts if you can.
Step 5. Try to look at the problem from all sides
You can answer your questions yourself by looking at the problem from all sides. A new approach can help you see something you couldn't make out before, fixing any issues you had on the matter.
Step 6. Do a search now
If you still have questions to ask, you should first do a research. Knowing as much as you can about the subject in advance is the most important part of being able to ask a question intelligently - you will show that you are prepared when addressing the issue.
Step 7. Decide what information you need
Once you've done your research, you'll know better what information you need. Take them into consideration and, if possible, write them down so you don't forget anything when you're ready to ask your question.
Step 8. Find the right person to ask
Another important component of a smart question is making sure you ask the right person. Being informed about the problem will help you be better prepared, but, under certain circumstances, you will do well to make sure you contact the right person (whether they are trying to reach a particular department or seek help from someone you don't know, for example).
Part 4 of 5: Ask Your Question
Step 1. Use the correct grammar
When asking your question, use the best grammar and pronunciation you can. Speak clearly and articulate your sentences well. This will not only make you appear smarter, it will also help you make sure the person you're asking can understand you and what you want to know.
Step 2. Use specific language
Try to be as specific as possible and use the appropriate language. Don't use hyperbole and be sure to ask what you really want to know. For example, don't ask a businessman if he's hiring generically, if you're really interested in a single particular position. Similarly, don't ask if they have an open position, but instead ask if they are hiring for the position you are looking for or would like to apply for.
Step 3. Ask politely and evaluate carefully afterwards
You are looking for information to fill a gap in your knowledge and here is the person who may have the answer: be nice! If you deem it appropriate, when you are not convinced of the answer or you have the feeling that it is not adequate for what you have asked for, proceed gently by asking how does he get this information. Ask what is the general trend that could quickly lead you to that knowledge: it means that you are looking for tools to answer, from this point on, independently to your questions.
Step 4. Ask the question simply
Don't ramble or explain more than what is necessary to understand your problem and answer the question. If your interlocutor misunderstands your purpose, any additional information can be distracting and lead to a completely different response from what you wanted to ask.
For example, don't tell your doctor your whole day to get to your health problem. He doesn't need to know that you got on the bus late that morning. What he needs to know is that you had a different breakfast than usual and that your stomach is now aching
Step 5. Use open or closed questions
Depending on the situation, you need to make sure you ask open or closed questions. When you need a specific answer or a sharp yes or no, try using closed questions. When you need as much information as possible, use open-ended questions.
- Open-ended questions usually start with phrases like "Why …" and "Tell me more about …".
- Closed questions usually start with phrases like "When …" and "Who …".
Step 6. You need to look confident
When you ask, you need to be confident. Don't be sorry or self-deprecating. This will make you appear smarter and others will be less likely to judge you on what you are asking. This is more important in certain situations than in others. If you are asking a teacher something, you don't have to worry about it. If you're asking a question in a job interview instead, that's probably a good idea.
Step 7. Don't use filler language
These are idioms like "ehm", "uhm", "uh", "ah", "oh", "how to say", etc; these are all terms that you insert into a sentence while looking for the next word you want to use. Most people do it completely unconsciously. Use these interlocutions as little as possible if you want to sound smarter and want your question to look well-posed and structured.
Step 8. Explain why you are asking
If it helps and the situation allows, you should explain the reason for your question or what your ultimate goal is. This attitude can help clear up misunderstandings and can help your interlocutor provide you with information you didn't even think you needed.
Step 9. Never ask questions aggressively
This indicates that you are asking the question only to prove to the other person that you are right and that they are wrong: it means that you are argumentative and do not have an open mind. Ask if you are really interested. If not, you'll get a defensive and far less useful response.
- Don't ask, "Is it true that more people would be better fed if we ate grains themselves rather than feeding the animals and then eating their meat?"
- Instead ask, "Many vegetarians argue that there would be more food available if society did not invest in meat production. The argument seems to make sense, but do you know arguments that counter this?"
Step 10. Just ask
The most important part of a question is simply asking! There are essentially no stupid questions, so you shouldn't be ashamed of asking for help. Asking questions is truly smart people! Also, the more you postpone, the more complicated the problem can get.
Part 5 of 5: Getting the Most Out of the Answer
Step 1. Avoid making the interlocutor uncomfortable
If you feel that the other person is starting to feel uncomfortable and perhaps you think you are not up to it, do not insist on the questions. Unless you are questioning the professionalism of a journalist, senator or lawyer, it is rare for a public third degree to be of any use in most situations. As an audience member or student in a class, you are looking for information, not currying. Sit down and say thank you. You will often have the opportunity to pursue your interlocutor later and have a private discussion with him. Even if you are trying to extract information of public interest, you need to realize that a delicate approach may be necessary to obtain realistic answers.
Step 2. Listen, instead of talking over who is answering you
If you want to get the most out of the answer you are given, you need to start by listening to what the person has to say. Only intervene if he has blatantly misunderstood an important piece of information and still do it politely.
Step 3. Wait for me to finish answering you
Even if it may seem that he has overlooked an important piece of information, do not ask for more until he has finished speaking. He may not have finished completing the answer yet or he may be waiting to get to a particular part of the answer because you need to clarify other points first.
Step 4. Reflect on what you have been told
Think about all the information they just gave you. Think about how the answer applies to your problem and whether all your questions have been addressed. Don't even take the information literally. If something seems out of place to you, you may have gotten the wrong information! Just because you've asked someone a question doesn't mean you'll get the right answer.
Step 5. Ask for clarification when you need it
If the answer they gave you doesn't make sense or there is something you don't understand, don't be too embarrassed to ask for further clarification. This will prevent further problems from arising because you did not have all the information you needed.
Step 6. Keep asking questions
Ask any further questions that arise until you have as complete an answer as possible. You may find that questions and information will arise that were not originally presented to you. Asking more questions will also show your interlocutor that you are really processing and appreciating the information they are offering you.
Step 7. Ask for generally related advice
You can also ask for general advice in the area you are interested in, if the person is an expert. He has a lot of knowledge you don't have, but he also found himself in a position where he had to learn all this information. She can probably offer you those good suggestions which she in turn would have wished had been given to her.
Advice
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Overdoing is not very polite. Don't try to sound polite by using words you don't understand or making them excessive or insufficient, for example:
- "Did you go to the 'pharmacy' yesterday to get a medical exam?" (wrong word).
- "Did you go to the doctor to get that thing where they watch you and tease you, they give you a lot of tests and stuff to let your doctor tell you that you are the best one of all?" (sounds too slang).
- "Did you go to the doctor to obtain a medical certificate for your extracurricular activity which certifies that the professional considers you in the most perfect and exemplary condition in contrast to all his other patients?" (which sounds redundant).
- Don't use big words. They make you look pretentious. Just tap into your sensible but also friendly side and don't worry too much about being bright.
- For some questions, try doing some research beforehand. Try searching the internet for answers. Google is an amazing tool for finding great resources.
- Involve the audience in the question. Invite bystanders with phrases such as "Do you think …?" or "Have you considered this question …?"
- Example: "Until now, I had always thought that classical music was not worth listening to. Maybe that's because all my friends hated it. But if musicians and educated people like it, there must be something. I know you. like it, so can you tell me what's there to like?"
- Try to find out more to add substance to what you are actually saying.
Warnings
- Be careful not to react aggressively to the response you get if you don't like it. If you are unwilling to get any kind of answer, don't even ask the question. Sometimes a person can respond aggressively to your most innocent request. Do not worry.
- Never ask a question just for the sake of asking it, whether it's focusing on yourself or wanting to sound smart. This is the worst possible reason for asking a question.
