TIPS & TOOLS - The Art of Asking Questions To Get Full Participation
excepts from "Facilitation Skills for Team Leaders", Donald Hackett & Charles Martin

Great facilitators understand how to ask questions that generate full participation. There are rules to asking questions and types of questions that can be asked at certain times to make the most of any group discussion.

Rules for Asking Nonthreatening Questions:

1. Initially ask each question of the entire group.

2. Pause and allow the participants time to consider the question.

3. If a person responsds, acknowledge the remark and explore the response further if possible or necessary.

4. If no one responds in a reasonable amount of time, look for nonverbal signals from a participant who is wanting to be involved. Then go to that person by name.

5. If no one responds to a question, consider rewording the question or asking if the question needs clarification.

6. Aboid biased questions.

7. Avoid too many "yes/ne" questions, which limit discussion.

8. Avoid questions that may put participants on the defensive.

9. Refrain from the temptation of initally asking "by name" questions to get people's attention or to punish their inattention. It will backfire.

Types of Questions to Ask:

1. Open-Ended Questions - this is a question that cannot be answered with a single word. They stimulate thinking, encourage greater discussion, and discourage people from taking definitive positions too early.

2. Greater Response Questions - is an adaptation of the open-ended question. It is used to get deeper into the comments already given. Use words such as "describe", "tell", and "explain".

3. Redirection Questions - is used when the facilitator is asked a question. Facilitation is not about giving information but helping the group reveal the information they have. Instead of answering a question, ask the group to answer the question.

4. Feedback and Clarification Questions - is used to bring closure or clarification to a topic so all people in the group understand the issue being discussed.

5. Close-Ended Questions - used very infrequently and only for clarification since they do little to help the discussion process.