Comments on: Any question? http://www.millswyck.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/14/any-question/ Thoughts on things, communications and otherwise Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:08:48 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Alan Hoffler http://www.millswyck.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/14/any-question/comment-page-1/#comment-36235 Alan Hoffler Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:16:53 +0000 http://www.millswyck.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/14/any-question/#comment-36235 I'd offer that people are not prepared to answer most of the time. A simple template and method for handling questions is easy to come by and easy to master. Practice helps -- a LOT. Another thought is that the answer to a question requires the brain "starting from zero", so to speak, so there is no stream of consciousness to benefit from. I think we all as responders would do well to do the hardest thing for a speaker -- keep our mouths shut until the brain knows what it's going to say. I’d offer that people are not prepared to answer most of the time. A simple template and method for handling questions is easy to come by and easy to master. Practice helps — a LOT.

Another thought is that the answer to a question requires the brain “starting from zero”, so to speak, so there is no stream of consciousness to benefit from.

I think we all as responders would do well to do the hardest thing for a speaker — keep our mouths shut until the brain knows what it’s going to say.

]]> By: David Warren http://www.millswyck.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/14/any-question/comment-page-1/#comment-34893 David Warren Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:26:10 +0000 http://www.millswyck.com/blog/index.php/2008/06/14/any-question/#comment-34893 Why do you think a mere question puts people at such a loss. There is very little difference between "tell me about your experience as it relates to this job" and "What relevant experience do you have for this job?" Perhaps if the speaker can rephrase the question in the form of a directive it would be less intimidating? Why do you think a mere question puts people at such a loss. There is very little difference between “tell me about your experience as it relates to this job” and “What relevant experience do you have for this job?” Perhaps if the speaker can rephrase the question in the form of a directive it would be less intimidating?

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