USING QUESTION TO

FOSTER CRITICAL
THINKING AND
CURIOSITY
introduction
 The power of asking questions

Improve
Foster critical Boost self- Enhance Guide the
problem-solving
thinking skills confidence creativity conversation
skills

Enable others to
Build Demonstrate
discover answers Gain empathy Ignite hope
relationships humility
for themselves

Inspire new Cause seismic Lead a powerful

Change behavior
insights mental shift life
The power of asking questions

As human beings, we all share the same innate

We're all searching for how we can improve our curiosity to learn and grow, so why do some
lives both personally and professionally, so why is people appear to have more answers than others?
it so difficult to find the answers we crave? Are they smarter or is it just because they're
asking better questions?

Have you ever had a conversation with someone

who only responded in two or three-word
A lot of people fail to understand the power of
sentences and you walked away feeling like you
asking quality questions. There are many benefits
learned very little? The person might not have
to asking better questions. Let's take a look at a
been intentionally giving you short answers, but
few.
perhaps you could have phrased your questions
better in order to get more information.
The power of asking questions
Questions can be used for so many
things, from problem solving, fueling
conversations with others, and even
finding your passion and purpose in
life. When used effectively, questions
are powerful tools. They can ignite
hope while inspiring new insights.
Sometimes a powerful question is all
A lot can be learned when the right
it takes to cause a seismic mental
questions are asked, but at the same
shift and when your mindset
time, so much is lost when we either
changes, so does your behavior. The
ask the wrong questions or no
most creative, successful people in
questions at all. Powerful questions
the world tend to be expert
can help you lead a powerful life, so
questioners. They've mastered the
start thinking about the kinds of
art of inquiry, raising questions no
questions you see in your every day
one else is asking and finding the
life and how powerful they are.
answers everyone else is seeking.
First, asking better questions helps
foster critical thinking skills, it boosts
self-confidence, enhances your
creativity, and improves your
problem-solving skills.
From a relationship standpoint, it
can help someone else feel special
and important, and this can help
begin or strengthen a relationship.
By asking better questions, you guide
At the same, it enables a person to
the conversation in the direction you
discover answers for themselves.
want it to go, eliminating confusion.
Emotionally, asking good questions
demonstrates humility to the other
person and helps you gain empathy
through better understanding of
another person's view.
Albert Einstein once notably said, "If I had an hour to solve a problem "and my life depended on the
solution, "I would spend the first 55 minutes "determining the proper question to ask, "for once I know
the proper question, "I can solve the problem in less than five minutes."

Questions can be used for so many things, from problem solving, fueling conversations with others, and
even finding your passion and purpose in life.

When used effectively, questions are powerful tools. They can ignite hope while inspiring new insights.

Sometimes a powerful question is all it takes to cause a seismic mental shift and when your mindset
changes, so does your behavior.
The most creative, successful people in the world tend to be expert questioners.

They've mastered the art of inquiry, raising questions no one else is asking and
finding the answers everyone else is seeking.

A lot can be learned when the right questions are asked, but at the same time, so
much is lost when we either ask the wrong questions or no questions at all.

Powerful questions can help you lead a powerful life, so start thinking about the
kinds of questions you see in your every day life and how powerful they are.
The four domains of questioning

You see not all questions are created What kind of question you ask will
Questions can be a powerful tool, but
equal. In fact, just as important as determine the type of information
how exactly should you be using
knowing the right question to ask is you receive, and that can make the
them? Knowing what to ask is
also knowing where to ask it. difference between understanding or
important, but understanding where
Questioning is the ability to organize sheer confusion. If this is true, then
exactly and in what part of your life to
our thinking around what we don't we'd better make sure we at least
ask these questions is critical.
know. know where to direct our questions.

To direct the conversation, I'm gonna

talk about the application of
questioning in terms of self The first step to receiving any answer
development. In other words, how is being brave enough to ask the
can we improve ourselves and our question. So where do you begin?
lives based on the questions we ask
ourselves?
The four domains of questioning
The first is wellness. This is about your mind,
body, and spirit. Wellness is about the totality of
your health and it can include what you do
There are four main areas that all of our lives boil
spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally,
down to.
and of course, nutritionally. What are you doing
currently in these areas and would you consider
your wellness to be in balance?

Next is finances. Money is a touchy subject and

quite personal, mostly because it's tied to our ego
and self worth which is why this particular area
requires a greater level of attention. So much of
our lives and how we live them are based on our
financial conversations. Do you have a sense of
financial freedom, an abundance, or are you
struggling to make ends meet?
The four domains of questioning

Relationships, when we talk about relationships,

we're referring to the relationships with others
and ourself. Spending our time with those we care
about, it's restorative and healthy, and this
includes spending time with ourselves. It's
important to build those strong and healthy
relationships, but unfortunately it can be
complicated. And when dealing with people and
their emotions, how we speak to ourselves
becomes the foundation for our relationships.
Would you be friends with yourself based on how
you talk to yourself today?

Career, people spend more time at work than

they do anywhere else in today's society which is
one of the many reasons our career paths are
important to examine. It would make sense that
working in a career that provides you not only
money but deep nourishing and fulfilling
challenges would be a must have, but sadly that's
not always the case. Do you enjoy the work that
The four domains of
questioning
• When examining these areas of
your life, look for areas of
improvement and opportunities to
change. Ask yourself if you feel
empowered or disempowered by
the answers you find. It doesn't
matter where you start, as long as
you begin.
Empowering yourself through questions

Asking the right questions can mean the difference between success and failure.

Unfortunately, asking questions can also be uncomfortable. For many the sheer thought of asking a question
can be paralyzing. The terror of looking foolish applies in large crowds at work or in front of say a loved one or
on a first date.

However, the cost of not asking one could potentially be debilitating. Everyone has the power to ask a question
so why do some people appear to be more comfortable asking them while others struggle?

The answer lies in the individuals approach and intention when asking their questions. It's a lot easier when
you understand that questions you'll ask will give you information to help improve your life either personally or
professionally.
Empowering yourself through questions

The second piece is to understand the type of question you're asking.

When you ask a question, you have to know what you want for the
answer. What type of information are you seeking?

Once you know what kind of information you need and who to ask, you
have to ask your question in a manner that gets the best possible
information and response.

Asking great questions is a skill like any other and it takes practice. The
good news is that anyone can do it. Here's some techniques to draw out
what you need to know.
Empowering yourself through question
Instead, ask an open-ended
Don't ask yes or no questions. When
question. By using an open-ended For example, if you could wake up
you ask a yes or no question, you
question you get insights and tomorrow having gained one quality
almost often get incomplete
additional information you might not or ability, what would it be?
information.
have known existed.

Is there something that you've What's the greatest accomplishment

Why haven't you done it?
dreamt of doing for a long time? of your life?

And what's your most treasured

memory and why?
Empowering yourself through questions

Now, let's look at digging deeper. Always consider using follow-up questions.

Unless you're looking strictly for the facts, there's often something buried underneath the surface
in the answer the person gives you.

Ask them a follow-up question such as what makes you say that? Or, why did you think that?

Next, learn to be with silence. As you get more comfortable with asking a question you'll also want
to develop the ability to be patient while waiting for a response.

Many times the person you're questioning has more information and they will share it if you give
them the space to do so.
Empowering yourself through questions

It signals to the person, you

And finally, don't interrupt. Be
don't value what they're saying
polite, don't interrupt the
and that can come off as
person with whom you asked
disrespectful and
the question.
unprofessional.

Interrupting someone also In the end, what matters is

stops their train of thought and being able to understand the
directs the conversation the questions you're asking and
way you want not necessarily learning from them regardless
the way it should go. of their answer or outcome.
Benefits of being curious

Albert Einstein said, "I have no special talent, "I'm only passionately curious."

But scientific research indicates that nurturing your curiosity can also make you smarter
and open to new experiences.

The benefits of curiosity are not limited to the intellectual. For children and adults alike,
curiosity has been linked with psychological, emotional, social, and even health benefits.

It's a little known fact that some of the most intelligent and innovative figures of the past
all had one thing in common. They were insatiably curious.
Benefits of being curious

It's been said that children

ask roughly 125 questions
Edison, Einstein, da Vinci,
per day and adults ask
just to name a few, were all
about six questions per day,
curious people who were
so somewhere between
fueled by the desire to
childhood and adulthood,
know more.
we're losing a 119 questions
per day. What happened?

Somewhere along the way, The good news is that your

many of us neglect our curiosity never goes away.
innate fascination and It's just a matter of tapping
sense of wonder, and began back into it and once you
to accept things for how do, your ability to ask better
they are. questions will soon follow.
 The impact and benefits of developing your curiosity are quite
Benefits of being amazing.

Recent studies in the field of Cognitive Neuroscience has shown us the

linkage between curiosity, learning, and memory. Some of the data
suggest when people were highly curious to find out the answer to a
question, they were better at learning that information.

In addition, once their curiosity was aroused, they showed better

learning of entirely unrelated information that they encountered but
were not necessarily curious about.
curious

People are also better able to retain the information learned during a
curious state across a 24-hour delay, but this is just the beginning.
 Curiosity helps us survive.
The benefits of being curious are The urge to explore helps us remain
plenty. vigilant and gain knowledge about
Benefits of being
our constantly changing
environment.

Curious people are happier people.

Curiosity boosts achievement.
Research has shown curiosity to be
curious

Studies have shown that curiosity

associated with higher levels of
leads to more enjoyment and
positive emotion, lower levels of
engagement in and out of the
anxiety, more satisfaction with life,
workplace.
and greater psychological well-being.
 Curiosity can expand our empathy. When we're
curious about others and we talk to people outside
of our usual social circle, we become better
Benefits of being
equipped at understanding those with different
opinions than ours.

Curiosity helps strengthen relationships. Being

curious can make you a better listener. When you're
genuinely interested in others, you'll be motivated to
curious

listen and pay attention to what's being said and, as

a result, create better conversations and stronger
connections with other people.
 Benefits of being curious

Curiosity increases productivity. The

Being genuinely interested in
better you understand the details of
uncovering the why about events
Curiosity creates the mental muscle something, the more information
and people in your life means that
which is responsible for acquiring you'll have regarding the situation,
you'll refuse to settle for how things
more knowledge. the more equipped you'll be able to
appear on the surface, but instead
handle it successfully and in a
be willing to look a bit deeper.
productive manner.

In short, being curious can help you A curious mind will seek out endless If you have a curious mind, instead
see new worlds of possibility, opportunities as something new of neglecting it, embrace it and see
beyond your normal, every day life. while embracing the unknown. where it might take you.
Check your assumption
We all make assumptions. It's not a question if you
do it. It's a matter of how often you do it and how
often they go unchecked.
It's easy to make assumptions. All you need is
incomplete information about a situation and an
unwillingness to ask the questions you need to
fully understand. In the absence of complete
information, you're gonna fill in the blanks
yourself because that's what your brain is
hardwired to do.
You see, not all assumptions are created equal.
Some are trivial, others are potentially
devastating, but almost every single one of them
is faulty.
You fill in the blanks with your interpretation of
what you see or hear and your interpretation
comes from past experiences that seem similar,
but they're not. Armed with your information, you
fill in those blanks that aren't there.
Check your assumption

Let's take a look at some of the pitfalls

Assumptions can lead to dangerous that come with making assumptions.
consequences. Sometimes silly, but I've also included these and a few
other times quite serious. more in the exercise file called
Checking Your Assumptions.

They stunt your growth and If you dismiss ideas before learning
development. People typically form about them or trying them out for
assumptions about things that they've yourself, you'll miss out on a lot. They
never tried before. hinder your creativity.
Check your assumption

When you make assumptions, you place limits on your imagination and actions, leading you to repackage existing ideas while
remaining in your comfort zone. They stop you from taking responsibility for your life.

Assumptions allow you to hide behind your version of the story and not pursue the facts. That's not new news to anyone. We know
the jokes about assuming, but here's what's new.

We use assumptions and, as a result, we jump to conclusions more often under times of uncertainty and stress. Now, according to
the latest neuroscience research, we're being bombarded with constant electronic stimuli and it's pushing our brains to work
overtime.

This amplifies our anxieties and also amplifies the use of assumptions which makes us jump to conclusions. This creates uncertainty,
something the brain absolutely despises since it's hardwired for certainty.

Under stress, we tend to make assumptions to reduce the amplification of our anxiety.
Check your assumption

At some level, we have to make assumptions. Assumptions operate sort of like an autopilot in your head.

It's a structure in our brain that allows us to focus on what's critical. An autopilot in an airplane exists so
that the basic functions are automated and the pilot can be busy doing something else.

Assumptions operate the same way. If we're thinking about the very basics of our thought and belief
system all the time, we couldn't concentrate on the other things we really wanna do.

Can you imagine having to relearn how to use a fork every time you had to eat? Of course not. You just
switch on the autopilot and off you go. The problem is most of us don't examine the settings on the
autopilot to see if we got the right one.
Check your assumption

It's really not a question of what you assume,

but how you do it and whether those
assumptions are true.

How do you figure out whether an

assumption is true? That's the bigger
question.

First, you have to identify what you believe.

Second, you have to examine against

objectivity and that might mean pulling apart
a complex idea or a feeling and then be able
to say clearly what the result is.
Check your assumption

This requires you to simply pause and ask yourself, how do I know this?

If the answer to that question is anything other than I learned it through

observing the evidence or through obtaining factual information, then
you're at risk of making an incorrect assumption.

If we just stop and do our own fact checking before deciding that we
know something, we'll avoid the trap of false assumptions and most likely
prevent a lot of unnecessary difficulties for our ourselves and others.
How to ask
question
Different types of questions
Although the reasons for asking questions are vast and varied, the
information we receive back, i.e., the answer, it will depend very much on
the types of questions you ask.

There is a time and a place for different kinds of questions and

understanding the key differences of each type is critical to ensure you're
receiving the information you need.

There are typically five types of questions: Closed, Open, Leading or

loaded questions, recall and process questions, and rhetorical questions.
Closed questions are usually easy to answer. As a choice of answers,
typically a yes or no, depending on the question. For example, did you get
the assignment done?

Sometimes closed questions require that a choice is made from a list of

possible options. For example, would you prefer to take a break for lunch
or keep working and have lunch ordered in?

Closed questions have the following characteristics. They give you facts,
they're easy to answer, they're quick to answer, they keep control of the
conversation with the questioner.
• Now consider using closed questions in the following situations, as
opening questions in a conversation, as it makes it easy for the other
person to answer and it doesn't force them to reveal too much about
themselves, for testing their understanding, this is also a great way to
break into a long ramble, for setting up a desired positive or negative
frame of mind in them, ask successive questions with obvious
answers, either yes or no.
• For example, are you happy with your current manager?
• Are they giving you what you need?
• Do you need any additional resources?
• In contrast to closed questions, open questions allow for a much
longer response and therefore potentially more creativity from you
and more information from the one you're asking.
• There are a lot of different types of open questions and some are
more open than others.
• Open questions have the following characteristics. They ask the
respondent to think and reflect, they'll give you opinions and feelings,
they hand control of the conversation to the respondent.
• Now consider using closed questions in the following situations, as a
follow on from closed questions to develop a conversation and open
up someone who's rather quiet, to find out more about a person,
their wants, needs, and problems, and so on, to get people to realize
the extent of their problems and broaden their perspective.
• Next are leading or loaded questions.
• A leading question, usually subtle, points the respondent's
answer in a certain direction.
• For example, asking an employee, how are you getting on with
the new learning management system? This question prompts
the person to think about how their managing with the new
system at work. In a very subtle way, it raises the prospect that
maybe they're not finding the new system so good.
• Another example, outside of the work place, something a parent
might ask like did you have a good day at school points the child
towards thinking about good things that happened at school.
• By asking how was your school today, you're not asking for any
judgment about how good or bad the day was, but you're
moving more likely to a balanced, more accurate answer.
• Recall and process questions, questions can also be
categorized by whether they are recall, requiring
something to be remembered or recalled or a process
requiring something deeper, a thought or some type of
analysis.
• A simple recall question could be what is your boss'
first name? This requires the respondent to recall
some information, a memory or some fact.
• Process questions require more thought and analysis
and/or sharing of opinion. For example, a recruiter
may ask, what skills can you bring to this organization
that the other applicant can not?
• Rhetorical questions. Finally, rhetorical questions.
• Rhetorical questions are often humorous, they don't
require an answer. They're often used by speakers in
presentations to get the audience to think.
• Rhetorical questions are by design used to promote
thought while having our brains do what they're
programmed to do, to think and to keep us engaged.
• Check out the hand out, different types of questions,
for more information about the question types, how
you can transform questions, and the potential
answers to those questions.
Social media's role in asking questions
Nowadays, choosing where to ask a question can
ironically create even more questions than you
originally intended.
That's like asking a stranger why your tooth hurts.
The same caution applies in the workplace,
regardless of the topic. What we're talking about
here is a dose of common sense and a splash of
responsibility.
With social media websites and Q & A sites like
Quora, Reddit, and wikiHow, it's very easy to log in
and start asking people questions to your heart's
content. But that doesn't mean you should. Sure,
you could ask someone on Twitter or Facebook
about how to ask for a raise at work, but would
you value their response?
Regardless of whether it's online or in person,
whether you're on a date or interviewing for a job,
there's some universal rules you should consider
before speaking or pressing send on that email.
First, know what you want. Often, it's not clear to you or others what it is exactly that you're in
need of, so take the time, learn or discover exactly what you want.

Secondly, you have to actually ask for it. It sounds simple, right? But people can't read your
mind, so don't ask them to. A hundred percent of the time, you get 100% of your efforts, so be
bold, be direct, and be brave.

Next, be clear. You should be able to ask someone, who isn't your intended audience, your
question and they should still understand what you're asking, even if they can't answer it. Also,
it's important to be direct about not only what you want, but when you need it by.
Fourth, be targeted about who you ask. The more specific you can be about who you ask, the better off you'll be.
Asking everyone you know about something specific and personal is probably not the best approach. This tends to
turn people off and can ruin your reputation and the ability to ask future questions when you need those answers.
It's quality, not quantity. It's better to ask three people who are very well equipped to answer you versus 10 who
aren't interested at all.

Fifth, be responsible with the kind of questions you ask. Ask yourself if you would be okay with the questions being
printed on the cover of the New York Times. Would it cause any concerns? Once you've taken these factors into
consideration, and asked your question, be persistent but not annoying or arrogant. Don't take no for an answer if
and when applicable. You may have to ask your question more than once and depending on the medium you use,
email, text or online, you may have to wait. But don't get discouraged. The people who get answers understand the
importance of following up and following through.
• Lastly, and maybe most importantly,
remember, choose your platform and people
wisely. If the question is urgent, consider
finding someone live to ask, but if you have the
time and the question is of lesser importance,
feel free to use the platform that best matches
your question and potential audience. If you
never ask, the answer will always be no,
regardless of whether it's online or in person. If
you do get a no, consider that you either asked
the wrong question, the wrong person, or you
used the wrong platform.
The trouble with canned questions
Asking the same question repeatedly can be both annoying and frustrating to
you and those you ask. So why is it that we sometimes find ourselves in
situations where our questioning is limited? Enter the canned question.

It feels like a regular question, when in fact, it's designed to specifically limit
the type and/or amount of answer provided by another person.

The result is both a limited exchange of communication and

information. These kinds of questions are typically found in job interviews or
performance reviews with your boss.

The problem with asking canned
questions is that they will typically
get you canned responses.
Alternatives could be, what are three
qualities that make you a good fit for
the role and how have you been
using them previously?
For example, what kind of job are
you looking for? The answer, one
Or, will I be getting a promotion? The
that provides stability, a good
answer, we'll have to see.
culture, good people, and challenges
me.
Or, what do you believe is missing
from my potential of getting a
promotion?
 DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF YOUR SITUATION
AND QUESTION, SOMETIMES A DEFINED ANSWER IS
NEEDED, BUT ASKING EITHER/OR QUESTIONS COULD
LEAVE YOU BACK AT SQUARE ONE, NOT LEARNING
ANYTHING NEW FROM THE OTHER PERSON.
ULTIMATELY, TO AVOID A CANNED COMMUNICATION FEEL FREE TO STATE YOUR PROBLEM OR ISSUE IN
EXPERIENCE, REMEMBER THIS, LIMIT YOUR DETAIL, BUT LIMIT YOUR QUESTION TO ONE
QUESTION TO ONE SENTENCE. SENTENCE.
 Sticking to one sentence helps ensure your
questions are open-ended. It's also important to
only provide options in your question if those are
truly the only options.
Keep in mind, that although you've thought about In the end, remember to stay short, stay open
this a lot, there are always other options you may ended, and stay neutral. You already know what
have missed, and you don't want to limit the you know. Great questions are designed to find
answers unnecessarily. out what other people know, so stay quiet and
listen. You never know what you'll learn when you
ask the right questions the right way.
3. So now what
Expectation & setting intention
When you ask a question, more times
than not you're either seeking a specific
answer or truly looking for clarification.
The challenge lies in what you're
expecting to hear versus your intention
when asking the question.
Expectations focus on future outcomes,
whereas intentions focus on the process
or things you plan to do in order to
achieve those outcomes.
The difference between intention and
expectation might sound subtle, but
asking with an intention versus asking to
set expectations can make a huge
difference in your experience when
asking a question.
Diving deeper, expectations is defined
by the Oxford Dictionary as a strong
belief that something will happen or be
the case, or a belief that someone will
or should achieve something.
So an expectation has a success or failure attached to it depending upon
whether that expectation is realized.

When expecting something, we've already created a narrative about the

result, how it's going to go, or how it should, must, have to be, and
consciously or not, we're expecting that story to unfold.

It's important to be clear about the meaning of the word expectation. It

doesn't mean intention to achieve or to have motivation, ambition,
objectives, or goals. It refers only to expectational results, the expectation
of an outcome.

Results, they depend on a few different factors, both internal and

external, over which we cannot expect to have full control. It's important
to remember that there's an uncertainty involved in the actual
achievement of the results despite our best intentions and our efforts.
The more we're attached to the results or a specific answer, the more we'll experience an unnecessary
degree of anxiety, tension, and fear of losing.

An alternative to asking questions with expectations in mind would be to ask with intention. An
intention, by definition, is something we want and we plan to do.

We can have an intention to achieve and make the necessary efforts without being worried about the
fact that the result may not ultimately be achieved. In this case, the intention and the mental investment
is not about whether you achieve the actual results.

Instead you're focusing on making the effort to achieve those results without having any expectations on
what the results should be.
This phrase, it's about the journey, not the destination, speaks loudly to our topic, because the focus is
on the daily steps, the efforts, and the commitment you take in service of the larger goal that hasn't yet
been realized or experienced.

So if we set our intention toward a goal, aim or purpose, while being detached from the outcome, we can
pay full attention to our efforts when asking a question, which can lead to a better result and outcome
itself.

When we intend something, and are open to the actual and possibly different outcome, there's an
opportunity to learn, stay curious, and be with a new, perhaps better outcome.

When being intentional it frees you from the fear of losing and will allow you to focus on the present
conversation, letting go of any attachment to any specific outcome.
• In short, expectation is a hope that
something will happen, and it's attached to
the outcome. An intention is simply an
impulse, which gives structure and direction
to your thoughts and your energy.
How to answer questions

The fear of answering a question

This happens often for presenters,
inappropriately is high on the list
either on stage, giving
for many people, as they don't
presentations, or in any one on one
wanna look unprepared or
setting with another individual.
uneducated.

It's important to remember that Knowing how to answer a question

questions are a vital part of any is a critical skill, and it begins with
conversation whether on the stage planning both effectively and
of work or the stage of life. efficiently.
 The first step here is to listen. It's important to
listen to all parts of a question before drawing a
premature conclusion about your best response.
Frequently, questions can change direction at the
last moment, particularly if the questioner is
thinking in the moment. This can throw you off.
And if you've already started to plan your
appropriate response, you wanna be careful.
Remember that questioners will frequently try to
make a point while asking their question. So, it's
important to both hear the content of the
question, and try to decipher the questioner's
intention.
The next step is to understand. If you're worried that you haven't understood a question, clarify the
area of inquiry before going any further.

Check for confirmation by paraphrasing the question back to the questioner. Or check in to see that
your reply is heading in the right direction.

Next, it's time to communicate and involve. It's important to remember that, especially, when
presenting and taking a question from someone, to be mindful and engage with the other members.

This is particularly important in large groups. As the audience will become bored quickly if the
presentation descends into a one-to-one discussion.

To involve the rest of the audience and avoid potentially extended dialogue with one questioner, make
sure that the whole audience has heard and understood questions by outlining the area of question.
Now, it's time to respond. When you reply to a question, direct your answer to both
the questioner and the other members of the audience if presenting to a group.
Keep your responses brief and as focused as possible, leaving room for other
questions.
Always remember to pause and check back with the questioner to see if you've
answered his or her question.
In the even you receive a difficult question, it's important not to start responding
before you've thought about the answer.
Repeating the question and asking for clarification will help create some space for your
thoughts.
• Afterwards, be sure to allow follow-up
questions. Always leave enough time for
more questions and to clarify any missing
points.