Start your questions with:
Who?
Why?
What?
When?
Where?
or How
If you ask, "were you terrified?" you will receive a one-word answer.
If you ask, "what was that like?" you will get a thoughtful, meaningful answer.
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10 things emotionally intelligent people do to create powerful conversations:
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Similar ideas to 3. Use Open-Ended Questions
Start your questions with who, what, when, where, why or how.
For example, instead of asking "Were you terrified?", which will produce a "yes" or "no" answer, try asking, "How did that feel?" They might have to think about it, but you'll get a much better response.
Avoid questions you can answer “yes” or “no”. They are closed-ended, don’t generate discussion and they rarely yield any insight.
By asking open-ended questions, you get far more interesting insights. They invite reflection and start discussions.
Being a good listener is not about getting the facts about what made them upset. It is to be supportive, offer encouragement, and empathize.
Ask open-ended questions to communicate that you're interested in them. Avoid questions beginning with 'Why' and use 'What' or 'How' instead....
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