16 Asking Questions that Move the Team Forward
Verna Johnson
Being a great leader involves not only knowing how to listen well but also asking the right kinds of questions. The wrong questions can do more harm than good, while the right questions stimulate conversation, help your team generate ideas, and foster a positive work environment.
Watch Group Leadership Skills: Part 2 to learn how to ask good questions as a leader in a group setting. As you watch, think about how you could apply these tips to your current or future workplace or even when working on group projects for school.
Video 2.2: Running Time: 4:10
Group Leadership Skills: Part 2 | Published by Communication Coach Alexander Lyon | Dec 11, 2016
This video focuses on how to lead better group discussions by asking clear, thoughtful questions—an essential leadership skill in team communication.
The speaker offers three key tips:
-
Ask simple questions. Avoid asking long, complicated questions that include multiple ideas. Instead, ask one straightforward question at a time to help others stay focused and respond easily.
-
Ask open-ended questions. Start your questions with How, What, or Why to encourage longer, more thoughtful responses. Closed questions (like Yes/No or multiple choice) often stop a conversation rather than keep it going.
-
Pause after asking. After asking a question, give the group 8 to 10 seconds of silence. This may feel like a long time, but it allows people, especially quieter members, to think. If there’s still no response, repeat the question and pause again.
The speaker also suggests two practical techniques to help group discussions start more smoothly:
-
Let group members write down their thoughts before speaking. Even 20 seconds of silent thinking can help people feel more ready to share.
-
Use a concrete example or visual, like a quote, image, or chart, to give the group something specific to respond to. This often leads to deeper, more focused discussion.
In short, asking good questions and giving people time to respond helps group leaders guide stronger conversations. These strategies are important for any manager or professional who wants to lead effective team communication.
