ASKING QUESTIONSHow to ask questions in business meetings

DO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND?

• Do you follow me?

• Am I making myself clear?

• Do you see what I mean?

• Are you still with me?

• Do you get what I’m saying?

MORE INFORMATION

• Could you say a little more about that, please?

• Would you elaborate on that a little?

• Could you go into a little more detail about that, please?

• Can you give an example of what you’re saying?

CLARIFICATION

• What exactly are you trying to say?

• What are you trying to say exactly?

• What do you think is the main take-away from this?

• Why do you feel this is important?

YOU WANT IT REPEATED

• I’m sorry, I missed that. Could you repeat it, please?

• I’m not sure I follow. Could you go over that point again, please?

QUESTIONSTypes of questions used in business meetings

CLOSED QUESTIONS

• When the answer is either Yes or No

• Do you plan to complete the report [by the end of the month]?

• Is this report based on the latest data?

• Did you check with the [accounting manager]?

• Are you going to let the [accounting manager] know?

OPEN QUESTIONS

• Used to get a longer, more detailed answer

• Could you tell me where I can [download the document]?

• Could you inform me about [the best practices]?

• Could you explain what’s in the report?

• I’d be interested to know where you got that information.

LEADING QUESTIONS

• Encouraging people to talk

• Shouldn’t we discuss the results from the latest report?

• Can we talk about the results of the metrics analysis?

• What’s up next?

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