I realized asking 'anything' can be a trap

Last month, I asked a huge open-ended question in a work meeting and got total silence for a full minute. The problem wasn't the topic, it was that my question was too broad and people didn't know where to start. Has anyone found a good way to frame a wide-open 'ask anything' moment so it actually gets answers?

3 comments

3 Comments

leewalker20d ago

Try giving them a starting point.

brianreed20d ago

Ever been in that awkward silence? I learned to give two or three specific examples of the kind of answer I'm looking for. It breaks the ice and shows people the level of detail you want. You could also ask them to write down one quick thought first before anyone speaks. That gets ideas flowing without the pressure of going first.

amy_craig2819d ago

Worry about awkward silences way too much. Half the time people are just thinking, and that quiet moment is fine. Leewalker has the right idea with a simple starting point, no need to overcomplicate it with examples and writing tasks. Feels like we're trying to solve a problem that isn't even a big deal.