Mentoring is the art of connecting, conversing, and concluding. To become good conversationalists, we can learn to distinguish between open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Open-ended questions are free from judgment and do not lead the respondent. They often begin with what, how, when, why, or who…
They are concise: The fewer words you use, the better. They focus on the future: Rather than dwelling on the past.
For example: What can you do today that will help you achieve your goals? Powerful questions aim to support the other person. They generate new perspectives, encourage reflection and learning, and lead to action.
It’s important to differentiate between open-ended and closed-ended questions. Closed-ended questions can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” For example: Are you happy? Closed-ended questions often place the focus on the questioner rather than the respondent. However, closed-ended questions can be useful when confirming or closing an agreement. For example, Are you willing to commit to this action plan you’ve created? Will you commit to completing the action plan you’ve chosen?
