Title: Questioning Skills and Techniques | SkillsYouNeed
Headings: 
Questioning Skills and Techniques
This page covers verbal questioning.
Why Ask Questions?
Although the following list is not exhaustive it outlines the main reasons questions are asked in common situations.
To Obtain Information:
To help maintain control of a conversation
Express an interest in the other person
To clarify a point
To explore the personality and or difficulties the other person may have
To test knowledge
To encourage further thought
In group situations
How to Ask Questions
Being Structured
Use Silence
Using silence is a powerful way of delivering questions.
Encouraging Participation
In group situations leaders often want to involve as many people as possible in the discussion or debate.
Further Reading from Skills You Need
Our Communication Skills eBooks

Content: This page covers verbal questioning. Why Ask Questions? Although the following list is not exhaustive it outlines the main reasons questions are asked in common situations. To Obtain Information: The primary function of a question is to gain information – ‘ What time is it? ’ To help maintain control of a conversation
While you are asking questions you are in control of the conversation, assertive people are more likely to take control of conversations attempting to gain the information they need through questioning. ( Also see our pages on Assertiveness)
Express an interest in the other person
Questioning allows us to find out more about the respondent, this can be useful when attempting to build rapport and show empathy or to simply get to know the other person better. ( Also see Building Rapport and Empathy)
To clarify a point
Questions are commonly used in communication to clarify something that the speaker has said. Questions used as clarification are essential in reducing misunderstanding and therefore more effective communication. ( Also see Clarification)
To explore the personality and or difficulties the other person may have
Questions are used to explore the feelings, beliefs, opinions, ideas and attitudes of the person being questioned.