How to ask powerful clarifying questions

Door Patrick Verheij

Consider these three responses from a person who listened to a given presentation:\r\n\r\n1. “Excuse me, but what you just said isn’t quite right. In my opinion…[]…and from what I have done…[]…so how come you say something like that?”\r\n\r\n2. “Excuse me, but I don’t really understand what you just said. Could you explain it a bit more?”\r\n\r\n3. You just told us…[]. I understand that…[]. Could you clarify what you mean by…[]?\r\n\r\nWhich one of these responses is your default?\r\n\r\nWhich one is the most powerful and engaging?\r\n\r\nWould you settle for response number 2?\r\n\r\nHow does any of these responses make you feel?\r\n\r\nAnd what about the person you respond to?\r\n\r\nAsking these questions and pondering them a bit could make this world a safer, kinder place.

Patrick Verheij

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