An open-ended question invites a person to explain a situation in their own words instead of choosing from fixed answers. At work, it helps uncover concerns that people may not raise directly and supports constructive dialogue. section 14.1.2 section 15.2.2
Use open-ended questions to:
- Explore what happened and why: “Can you recall any recent interaction where communication didn’t go as planned? What do you think was the reason?” section 14.1.2
- Invite personal impact: “How have these responses affected the project or team atmosphere?” section 14.1.2
- Reveal overlooked perspectives: “Have there been times when you felt your input was not adequately considered? How did this affect your work?” section 14.1.2
- Support one-on-ones by pairing questions with active listening, career-development discussion, and agreed action items. section 15.2.2
A practical workplace prompt
“Suggest a set of direct, open-ended questions for a structured conversation between two teammates whose communication has become tense. Make the questions respectful, specific, and focused on addressing issues before they escalate.” Review the resulting questions and adapt them to the people and situation before using them. section 14.1.2
