Ask a silly question
Featured in the Essential Interpersonal Skills for Outstanding Managers training manual
By Eddie Davies
Category: Communication Skills
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Individuals use interpersonal skills in a wide variety of settings, both at work and in many other areas of their life. Many people think that effective interpersonal communication involves telling other people accurately what you want them to do. Whilst effective one-way communication may have its place, considerably improved results are obtained through two-way communication. This training activity provides a structured way to explore and practise one of the essential ingredients of two-way interpersonal communication, namely the ability to use questions.
You begin this training activity by establishing that accuracy of information and understanding is key to interpersonal relationships. Typical ratings for interviewing are established as being inaccurate because of the one-way nature of most interviews. You reinforce this message by inviting the participants to take part in two exercises, the first using one-way communication and the second using two-way communication. Results invariably confirm that two-way communication is the most effective. Questioning is a key skill for two-way communication. During a discussion the participants explore what they know about the types and purpose of typical questions. They then use open questions to obtain full information from a partner by interviewing each other using a well-established set of guidelines. The training activity closes with a review of the learning points. The participants plan ahead and identify the questions they could use to make a forthcoming interpersonal interaction more effective.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to enable participants to experience the benefits of two-way over one-way communication and to practise the techniques used to ask effective questions.
- Themes:
- Assertiveness,
- Coaching,
- Communication,
- Counselling skills,
- Customer care,
- Influencing skills,
- Interpersonal skills,
- Interviewing skills,
- Introduction to effective management,
- Life and career planning,
- Managing meetings,
- Negotiating skills,
- Performance management,
- Project management,
- Sales training,
- Self-assessment,
- Self-development,
- Stress management,
- Supervisory skills,
- Team-building skills,
- Team development,
- Time management,
- Trainer development,
- Women into management,
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:10:00 |
| No of Pages: | 17 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: One postcard per participant.
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers on its own but is most effective when used at an early stage and as a building block of a training event designed to improve interpersonal skills in a variety of settings. It combines very well with the training activities, ‘It’s not what you say, it’s the way you say it!’ and ‘Ma he’s making eyes at me!’ to provide a comprehensive introduction to the key communication skills – active listening, body language and questioning – that underpin interpersonal skills.
Download the training activity, Ask a silly question as featured in the Fenman training manual; Essential Interpersonal Skills for Outstanding Managers