A good question—in a professional environment—is a query you can rely on to get the information you need from colleagues, team members, and supervisors. 

Good questions are to the point, open-ended, and clear in their intent. To ask a good question, you need a mixture of curiosity, personal clarity of thought, and [emotional intelligence](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence) (especially if you plan to ask incisive and tough questions). You need a general idea of what information you require as well as the ability to adapt to the information a person gives you in response to your initial question.

Knowing how to ask good questions is an essential aspect of business <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a>, from initial job interviews to the daily sort of teamwork necessary to keep operations running smoothly. Additionally, when you know how to ask good questions in the workplace, those same skills can prove just as useful in your personal life as in your professional one.
Good questions have plenty of worthwhile attributes, but it’s worth homing in on some of the most essential. Here are three core elements to keep in mind as you seek to ask better questions:

1. __Clarity__: While there might be no such thing as a “wrong question,” there certainly are unclear ones. To refine your personal question-asking, do your best to ask for whatever you need with as much clarity as possible. When you ask clear questions, you’re more likely to get clear answers, and you can utilize those clear answers to make mutual [decision-making](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles) more efficient and effective, too.
2. __Conciseness__: As you go through the list of questions you hope to ask, try to phrase them in as succinct a way as possible. It can be helpful to simply restate what you need to know in the form of a question. For example, suppose you want to know your manager’s criteria for a specific assignment. Rather than taking a more long-winded approach, you could politely ask, “What are the essential elements you’re looking for in this assignment?”
3. __Openness__: Answering questions is as much of an art as asking them in many cases, so allow the respondent the leeway to reply as they best see fit. Ask open-ended questions rather than closed ones unless the circumstances allow or call for a more matter-of-fact, yes-or-no answer.
When you know how to ask questions well, you make it far more likely you’ll receive the answers you need to succeed. Keep these tips in mind as you seek to learn the art of asking questions:

- __Aim for specificity__. While general questions can have their place, it’s more useful to aim for specificity when in search of a more distinct answer. To get the right answer, you need to ask the right question. Still, forgo asking leading questions—questions in which you fish for a predetermined specific answer. Be clear and concise with your question, but allow the respondent the opportunity to answer however they see fit.
- __Be genuinely curious__. Practice good emotional intelligence and communication skills when asking questions to convey your genuine curiosity. Make eye contact and pay attention to every word the respondent provides. Do your best to be a good listener, as people can feel ignored or insulted if you ask them the same questions over and over instead of processing their answer the first time.
- __Do your own research ahead of time__. Seek out as many good answers to your question as possible. This allows you to craft your next question to a coworker or supervisor with plenty of relevant information already in mind. By doing so, you save the respondent time and also pave the way for them to provide you with the exact information you need since you can ask a clearer question than you would’ve otherwise.
- __Establish what you want to know preliminarily__. To ask a truly insightful and probing question, do some preliminary brainstorming to decide on just what you need to know in the first place. Tailor the verbiage of your queries to indicate what you’re generally curious about.
- __Follow up if necessary__. If your first question doesn’t garner enough information to proceed as you would hope, there’s no shame in asking follow-up questions. To help clarify your own thinking as well as that of your respondent, summarize the answer to a previous question before following up with another one. This shows you understood what they initially said and delineates what you still need to know.
- __Leave your questions open-ended__. Closed questions make it harder for respondents to convey a wide array of information; open questions can still target what you need to know while allowing the respondent to answer in a thorough, distinctive way. Allow someone to answer questions in an open way and then narrow the type of questions you ask if you still need information.
- __Try to be succinct__. Utilize concise and succinct questions to help the conversation flow more seamlessly. Use silence more often than you fill in the gaps of conversation with your own speech to allow the respondent as much time as possible to reply with the information you need.
All you need is a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and our exclusive video lessons from the likes of Elaine Welteroth (the former <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"editor in chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>editor in chief</a> of *Teen Vogue* and host of CBS’ *The Talk*), Issa Rae (the powerhouse multihyphenate behind HBO’s *Insecure*), Robin Arzón (the lawyer-turned-head instructor of Peloton), and other luminaries who have have embraced the twists and turns on the path to professional success. With their guidance, you’ll learn how to lean into your strengths, follow your heart, and build the career of your dreams. 
Asking someone a question for the first time can be nerve-racking, especially if the person is a coworker or supervisor. Still, great questions can be powerful tools—as useful for the person asking them as for the person answering them—to gain clarity. Learn more about how to ask questions well.

Asking someone a question for the first time can be nerve-racking, especially if the person is a coworker or supervisor. Still, great questions can be powerful tools—as useful for the person asking them as for the person answering them—to gain clarity. Learn more about how to ask questions well.

How to Ask Questions: 7 Tips for Asking Good Questions

A good question—in a professional environment—is a query you can rely on to get the information you need from colleagues, team members, and supervisors. Good questions are to the point, open-ended, and clear in their intent. To ask a good question, you need a mixture of curiosity, personal clarity of thought, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-develop-your-emotional-intelligence","linkCopy":"emotional intelligence","category":null}'>emotional intelligence</a> (especially if you plan to ask incisive and tough questions). You need a general idea of what information you require as well as the ability to adapt to the information a person gives you in response to your initial question.Knowing how to ask good questions is an essential aspect of business <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/robin-robertss-tips-for-effective-communication","linkCopy":"communication","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>communication</a>, from initial job interviews to the daily sort of teamwork necessary to keep operations running smoothly. Additionally, when you know how to ask good questions in the workplace, those same skills can prove just as useful in your personal life as in your professional one.

What Is a Good Question?

Good questions have plenty of worthwhile attributes, but it’s worth homing in on some of the most essential. Here are three core elements to keep in mind as you seek to ask better questions:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Clarity: While there might be no such thing as a “wrong question,” there certainly are unclear ones. To refine your personal question-asking, do your best to ask for whatever you need with as much clarity as possible. When you ask clear questions, you’re more likely to get clear answers, and you can utilize those clear answers to make mutual <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles","linkCopy":"decision-making","category":null}'>decision-making</a> more efficient and effective, too. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Conciseness: As you go through the list of questions you hope to ask, try to phrase them in as succinct a way as possible. It can be helpful to simply restate what you need to know in the form of a question. For example, suppose you want to know your manager’s criteria for a specific assignment. Rather than taking a more long-winded approach, you could politely ask, “What are the essential elements you’re looking for in this assignment?” </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Openness: Answering questions is as much of an art as asking them in many cases, so allow the respondent the leeway to reply as they best see fit. Ask open-ended questions rather than closed ones unless the circumstances allow or call for a more matter-of-fact, yes-or-no answer. </li></ol>

3 Key Traits of a Good Question

When you know how to ask questions well, you make it far more likely you’ll receive the answers you need to succeed. Keep these tips in mind as you seek to learn the art of asking questions:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Aim for specificity. While general questions can have their place, it’s more useful to aim for specificity when in search of a more distinct answer. To get the right answer, you need to ask the right question. Still, forgo asking leading questions—questions in which you fish for a predetermined specific answer. Be clear and concise with your question, but allow the respondent the opportunity to answer however they see fit. </li><li class="">Be genuinely curious. Practice good emotional intelligence and communication skills when asking questions to convey your genuine curiosity. Make eye contact and pay attention to every word the respondent provides. Do your best to be a good listener, as people can feel ignored or insulted if you ask them the same questions over and over instead of processing their answer the first time. </li><li class="">Do your own research ahead of time. Seek out as many good answers to your question as possible. This allows you to craft your next question to a coworker or supervisor with plenty of relevant information already in mind. By doing so, you save the respondent time and also pave the way for them to provide you with the exact information you need since you can ask a clearer question than you would’ve otherwise. </li><li class="">Establish what you want to know preliminarily. To ask a truly insightful and probing question, do some preliminary brainstorming to decide on just what you need to know in the first place. Tailor the verbiage of your queries to indicate what you’re generally curious about. </li><li class="">Follow up if necessary. If your first question doesn’t garner enough information to proceed as you would hope, there’s no shame in asking follow-up questions. To help clarify your own thinking as well as that of your respondent, summarize the answer to a previous question before following up with another one. This shows you understood what they initially said and delineates what you still need to know. </li><li class="">Leave your questions open-ended. Closed questions make it harder for respondents to convey a wide array of information; open questions can still target what you need to know while allowing the respondent to answer in a thorough, distinctive way. Allow someone to answer questions in an open way and then narrow the type of questions you ask if you still need information. </li><li class="">Try to be succinct. Utilize concise and succinct questions to help the conversation flow more seamlessly. Use silence more often than you fill in the gaps of conversation with your own speech to allow the respondent as much time as possible to reply with the information you need. </li></ul>

How to Ask Questions

All you need is a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and our exclusive video lessons from the likes of Elaine Welteroth (the former <a href='https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://masterclass.com/articles/how-to-become-editor-in-chief","linkCopy":"editor in chief","category":"automated-link"}' automatic='true'>editor in chief</a> of Teen Vogue and host of CBS’ The Talk), Issa Rae (the powerhouse multihyphenate behind HBO’s Insecure), Robin Arzón (the lawyer-turned-head instructor of Peloton), and other luminaries who have have embraced the twists and turns on the path to professional success. With their guidance, you’ll learn how to lean into your strengths, follow your heart, and build the career of your dreams.

Ready to Start Designing Your Dream Career?

Asking someone a question for the first time can be nerve-racking, especially if the person is a coworker or supervisor. Still, great questions can be powerful tools—as useful for the person asking them as for the person answering them—to gain clarity. Learn more about how to ask questions well.

Asking someone a question for the first time can be nerve-racking, especially if the person is a coworker or supervisor. Still, great questions can be powerful tools—as useful for the person asking them as for the person answering them—to gain clarity. Learn more about how to ask questions well.
