Scenario: Closed Question

As an Action Learning Coach how would you handle the following situation: During the last check-in the team agreed that they need to use more open question; yet they continue to ask mostly close questioned. Even with the closed questions, the responses are open. You’ve tried asking “What question are you answering?” they say that one.  You add “What was that question?” They recognize it was a closed question and then give a closed answer. The next closed question the behavior repeats.   

Tags: Action Leaning, Action Learning, Action Learning Coach, WIAL, WIAL Action Learning, WIAL Talk

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Comments (9)

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    Jeff Feldman

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    I would intervene by asking the group to first observe their own behavior . . . Has anyone noticed the types of questions we’re asking? What form are they taking? Then I would ask them to recall the agreement made . . . What agreement did we make with regard to questioning during our last check-in? Then invite thoughts on the value of open questions as opposed to closed ones . . . What value do we gain from using mostly open questions? And then the why question . . . Why is that we though we understand the value of open questions and have agreed to use more of them, we continue to ask mostly closed questions? And finally the action question . . . What should we do about this? If deemed necessary, we could brainstorm a list of open questions which might be helpful to our process, perhaps even prioritizing them for once we get back into questioning mode. Of course, this approach would have to be flexed a bit based on the group’s response at each step along the way of the intervention.

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    DrBea

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    Team, you had indicated you wanted to ask more open questions. How are e doing with that? When we decide as a team we want to do something, why is it important that we follow through? How will we hold ourselves and each other accountable to adhere to our agreements.

    Happy Coaching
    Bea

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    Yoge Rajendra

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    Team, how important is it to respond to questions with closed answers?

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    Thitiwan Sinthunok

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    since asking a close question is not breaking that ground rule. I would listen first if closed question may appropriate. But if not , I will ask the team “what is the quality of our question ? ”

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    wei xiao

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    Since the close question has been adopted by the team. While recognizing the behavior they were using question not comments/suggestions, I would also add my observation :
    – ” Hi, team, I have observed that they team has been using a lot close question, did you hear that?” (Most likely they would agree my observation.)
    I will then ask questions like:
    – “What’s the impact it might have when we keep on using close question?”
    – “How it would support us to move on?”
    – “What you would do next?”
    – “How could we ensure us follow the behaviors of using open questions”
    Mean while, if time is sufficient, I might also lead them to think, what the benefits and opportunities to use close questions.

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    • Avatar

      wei xiao

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      I will ask the team:
      “We all agreed we will use more open question, but I noticed that the team has been using closed questions, did you notice it?”
      “What stopped us for the changes?”
      “What would be the impact the team and the problem solving if we keep on using the closed question?”
      “What do we need to do then? How could we ensure we do it?”

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    jitra dudsdeemaytha

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    If a participant almost use closed questions in early session, I will ask by using SID technique,
    “During XX minutes, have you heard more opened or closed questions?”
    “If we do continue asking with closed question, what will happen in the next XX minutes?”
    “What could you do better in asking questions?”

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    SAGOONSRI JINAPUNMONGKOL

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    I will ask them , What do you think if we keep asking the close question ?

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    Surawut Dudsdeemaytha

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    If this is the first time for the group, I would let it go for few 4-5 questions because some members may get used to asking a closed question. In addition, some time closed question was used when team members try to get more details in PP challenge. In that case I would let the process move on.
    However, if the close question keep going on I would intervene them using question as follows :
    “Team how are we doing?”
    “What kind of question we most used, closed or open?”
    “What will happen if we continue asking closed questions?”
    “What could we do better?”
    Then I will continue the session by “Who has the next question”

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