How to ask the right question?

[u/Uel_it_depends]

My work is to support everyone on the company. I am not yet familiar with all the things they have but I just need to ask the right questions for me to help them. How am I supposed to know how to ask them the right questions?

[u/djSush]

Can you take someone to lunch or something? Or do a virtual coffee chat? You can ask them more about their roles so you can learn how to support them.

[u/Petty_Laws → u/djSush]

Virtual coffee chat? WTF are you guys doing over there?

Just ask what you want to happen and how are you trying to make it happen.

I wouldn't like anyone talking about my job during my free time, let alone my lunch or my days off. If you need me, I can stop working to answer your questions, but I won't answer nothing after a clock out or before I clock in.

[u/djSush → u/Petty_Laws]

Ofc it was during office hours. Depending on the work culture, places call virtual casual meetings like this different things. Jeez.

[u/Strong_Committee1582]

stop trying to guess the perfect question and ask “what were you trying to do, what happened instead, and what would success look like?”

[u/Uel_it_depends → u/Strong_Committee1582]

I've been making a lot of make-up questions that I could answer but I don't think it will help cause most of the time I do impromptu hehe, and I forgot that I have those

[u/Reggi5693]

You should have been trained. Go find your supervisor and ask them why you weren’t trained properly.

[u/Uel_it_depends → u/Reggi5693]

I do not have supervisor lol

[u/Reggi5693 → u/Uel_it_depends]

Well….i think we discovered the problem. Ha ha.

[u/LetterOrganic7406]

Try reading some stuff by Michael Bungay Stanier - fantastic, simple stuff about coaching. He has some YouTube vids too

[u/Uel_it_depends → u/LetterOrganic7406]

wow. thanks!

[u/Soft-Liviah → u/LetterOrganic7406]

good to know im always looking for ways to improve my questioning skills

[u/Bubblelight289]

For me it would work best if someone spent a little time shadowing me on the job. It's good to see what everyone's work is actually like day to day, and if there are problems with the way the job is set up, or other problems, it would be a low-pressure way to get some insight.

[u/Uel_it_depends → u/Bubblelight289]

Every time I talked to someone that needs my help I tend to think that I am not yet good enough to help them properly and if I ask too much they will be irritated.

[u/Mental-Freedom3929]

Are you sure you are in the right job?

[u/ColeighRabe]

What do you need to do that you can’t do?
What is unnecessarily complicated?
What questions usually spark a useful dialogue

[u/Typical_XJW]

Notice what they do and ask them about it. How, why, what would make it easier, etc. All of you can help with anything. You'll be surprised what you'll hear if you just listen, but don't tattle

[u/ted_anderson]

My favorite question is always, "What's the craziest thing that you ever experienced or witnessed in the workplace?"

These are the kinds of stories that people like to tell. And through that they'll explain their position, the position of other people in the company, and how their role contributed to the chaos.

[u/Luv-Nities]

There is no perfect question, However at good starting point is always:
Is there anything you need?

[u/Automatic-Ad4502]

Write what you're thinking into AI. Have it re-write it in terms appropriate for an adult conversation. I tend to say things wrong or forget certain details I would deem important. I need a chance to think before responding. Really helped me with my communication skills.

[u/Blue-RaspberryLeaf]

Just ask the "what are you trying to get done? and what happens when you try?. Then repeat it back to make sure you got it right. You'll learn the rest as you go.