Whole Person Listening & Questioning Tips for Goal #2

Pay attention to the other person’s body language & tone for clues as to what they may really be feeling.

If words don’t match body language/tone, reflect on what you notice: “You said you’re ok with what we decided, but you don’t sound very happy about it.”

Notice if you ask more open-ended or close-ended questions. Open-ended questions open up dialogue.

Avoid leading questions like “Did you think the team was going to be happy about your decision?” Avoid questions that start with “Why,” use “What” instead.

Ask “What else?” or “Tell me more” to deepen dialogue.

Remember the “Power of the Pause” to avoid jumping in too quickly when you ask a question that may be more challenging for the person to answer.