Colouring in the picture
Featured in the Listening Skills training manual
By Jessica Madge
Category: Communication Skills
Credit price: 2 download credits (Single user)
Talkers often express themselves in a way that does not make their meaning clear. Listeners often need to probe in order to clarify what the talker is trying to convey. Probing questions can also help someone to express their feelings and sensations. Sometimes it is a customer who is saying something vague and woolly, maybe because they have a limited grasp of technical issues which are our day-to-day work. On other occasions we are trying to draw information out of a colleague. They have an idea or a concern that we do not clearly understand, and we need to help them express it in detail. Interviewers and negotiators use probing questions to draw out the information they need. Probing questions can also be used when someone is reluctant to talk – a staff member who performance is affected by a personal problem, perhaps; or a witness to a disciplinary matter. A good listener, skilled in the use of probing questions, is able to draw out more information so that it is comprehensive, specific and clear.
This training activity starts with an introduction to the idea of probing questions and participants work in pairs, asking probing questions about a smell. Then they complete a similar task, but this time asking questions about a coloured photograph that their partner is looking at. Finally, there is a group interview exercise based on drawing out details about holidays.
Who is it for: This training activity is intended for use by trainers to teach participants the skill of asking probing questions and to give further practice at asking open questions.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:50:00 |
| No of Pages: | 9 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: Aromatherapy oils, A tin or plastic box with a lid, Pictures cut from glossy magazines and pasted onto card, A cardboard folder, A bell or whistle, Clipboards for participants (optional).
Purpose: This training activity could be incorporated into courses on interviewing, appraisal, absence management, counselling, assertiveness and customer service. It is also fundamental to influencing, negotiating and selling. It assumes knowledge of open and closed questions (see ‘Do you come here often?’ Because it uses smells, it is a good activity to use in the early afternoon, when energy levels tend to flag.
Download the training activity, Colouring in the picture as featured in the Fenman training manual; Listening Skills