QUESTON TYPE

Close end question
Did you attend the staff meeting this morning?
Open end question
What was discussed at the staff meeting this morning?
Direct question
Which topics were listed on the meeting agenda?
Probing question
Can you tell me more about the first agenda topic?.
Hypothetical question
What would you have done, if you had not had the chance to present your idea at the meeting?

FOCUS MODEL:

Focus the discussion on the specific information you need
Open-end question to expand the discussion
Close-end question to get specifics
Use active listening skills to understand what you are hearing
Summarize and close the discussion

FOCUS EXAMPLE:

Focus the discussion on the specific information you need
I need to ask you about the computer meeting you attended yesterday.
Open-end question to expand the discussion
What kinds of decisions were made regarding expansion of our departmental system?
Close-end question to get specifics
Did the committee decide to buy Dell computers?
Use active listening skills to understand what you are hearing
What I think I heard you say was that the decision was made?
Summarize and close the discussion
So to wrap up, the system will expand and we will be using Dells. Thanks for keeping me up to date.