Got told I was asking bad questions at a networking event - changed my whole approach

I went to this local biz meetup in Austin last month and a guy pulled me aside after I kept asking yes/no stuff. He said, 'You're not getting real answers because you're not asking real questions.' So I switched to starting with 'What's the biggest challenge you faced...' or 'How did you handle...' instead. Now people actually open up and give me useful info instead of one word replies. Has anyone else had to unlearn how they ask questions in professional settings?

2 comments

2 Comments

finley77716d ago

Pretty similar thing happened to me at a parent teacher conference years ago. A dad said my questions made him feel like he was being interviewed by a cop. Now I just lead with something like "What's been on your mind lately with your kid's progress?" and the whole conversation changes. Works way better than my old list of yes or no questions.

holly_williams15d ago

Oh totally, that's such a good point. The cop comparison is brutal but honestly so accurate. A list of yes/no questions feels like an interrogation even if you don't mean it that way. I love the "what's been on your mind" opener because it puts the parent in the driver's seat and tells them you actually care about their perspective, not just checking boxes. It's amazing how a small shift in wording can totally change the vibe of a conversation. Plus it probably makes parents feel way more comfortable being honest instead of giving short answers just to end the meeting faster.