Question

types

#1
Clarifying
questions

#2
Questions that
seek to find
connnections

#3
Strategic
questions

#4
Questions
that encourage
reflection

Source
Tomm, 2001, p. 179 ff.
http://www.centernorth.com/index.php?/articles/text/reflexive_questions_in_a_coaching_psychology_context/

#1
Clarifying
questions

Goals

To get information about a problem, i.e. be curious.

To define the reasons for a problem.

Questions to define the problem

What is the problem in one word / sentence?
What exactly happened?
Which events led to the problem?
What kind of help do you need?
How did the problem happen?
How is. done at the company?
Who did what?
Where did it happen?
When did it happen?

Questions to define reasons for the problem

Why do you think it happened? Ask 5 x why.

Could it be that it happened because ..?
Why are the values of the company not practiced
in interaction with customers?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/34918427/Problem-analysis-methods

#2
Questions that
seek to find
connections

Goal

To find connections between persons,

objects, actions, perceptions, ideas,
feelings, events, beliefs, context.

Examples of questions - What

What relation do you see between events A and B?

What relation do you see between what person x did
and.?
What connection do you see among activities?
What impact will the activities launched have on
customers and people who work for the company?

Examples of questions - How

How does person x get along with person y?

How does person A think about person B?

Examples of questions - Who

Who do you think worries the most about this problem?

This seems to be a problem for you.
For whom is it not a problem?

#3
Strategic
questions

Goal

To influence / lead / help a person do things

in new ways, for example by encouraging the
person to challenge rules / assumptions.

Open questions
What have you done to solve the problem?
What do you intend to do to solve the problem?
What is the most important question you could ask
yourself in order to make situation x really great?
What alternative solutions do you see?

Confrontive questions provoking action

What would it mean for your life, if you dont ..?
If you had a meeting with the people in 1 hour,
what would you do dramatically differently
compared to how you have held meetings earlier?
If you take step # 1, what would your step # 2 be?
Have you thought of the following possibility:?
How about doing?
Does person A need to do activity B in that way?
Why dont you.?
Heres what you do:

#4
Questions
that encourage
reflection

Goals

To encourage a person to think / reflect

about his/her own way of doing things?
To help a person discover himself / herself in
new ways.
To call forth personal or tacit knowledge.

Reflecting on what you have done, what do you

think you did well?
Looking back, what would you have done differently?
Reflecting on the experience you had, which
personal values of yours have become
more important for you?

What would be different in your life, if .?

How do you think others experience the conflict
you are having with your colleague?
Think of someone you truly respect and admire.
What would he / she do in your position?
What is blocking you from doing .?
How did it make you feel, when .. happened?
How can I challenge you while you still feel
that I am being respectful?

Some sources
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/11/to_have_the_most_impact_ask_qu.html
http://business.financialpost.com/2012/01/14/coaching-advice-from-the-pros/
http://www.centernorth.com/index.php?/articles/text/reflexive_questions_in_a
_coaching_psychology_context/
Edgar Schein. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bknGdA_xdw
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34918427/Problem-analysis-methods