Soothing or stoking: the use of questions
Featured in the Managing Conflict training manual
By Caroline Love
Category: Conflict Resolution
Credit price: 4 download credits (Single user)
Our choice of questions has a dramatic impact on the results we get in one-to-one or group communication. Some questions are experienced as threatening, intrusive and undermining, and may raise tension and fan the flames of conflict. Other questions are experienced as helpful and empowering and help people move forward positively. This training activity is an opportunity for the participants to explore their own use of questions, their impact, and to consider changes, to minimise the risk of provoking conflict.
Following a brief introduction, a two-person scenario is presented to the group, who then analyse the use of questions and their impact. The participants move on to summarise their learning so far and the impact of questions on possible conflict. This is followed by a brief input by you on question types. The training activity continues with the participants working in small groups to rewrite and then present the scenario, using helpful questions to achieve a positive outcome. Again, the questions and their impact are analysed; then the participants reflect on their own questioning style and any changes they may want to make. The training activity closes with the participants recording their learning in a learning log.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers and is opportunity for the participants to reflect on how they currently use questions, consider the impact of their questions, identify changes, and practise using effective questioning techniques.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:45:00 |
| No of Pages: | 23 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers in a programme on managing conflict. It can also be used in programmes on team leadership, managing for managers, customer care, managing performance, and effective business relationships. This training activity has a lively start and could be used to inject energy into a programme, perhaps after lunch.
Download the training activity, Soothing or stoking: the use of questions as featured in the Fenman training manual; Managing Conflict