When in doubt Ask!!!

In our day to day activities, we come across several situations that may not seem clear to us right at the beginning – in such times it is better to clarify whatever doubts , misconceptions ,views we may have - but this may not always be very simple to do !

Lets take an example of a training session you are attending and look at a few tips to clarify

some doubts that come up during the session:

•Articulate the question

Sometimes we ask multiple questions at one go, this leads to confusing the recipient of the questions , which in turn confuses us . The respondent may skip answering important questions and they may not provide the answers we were looking for. Instead , we need to be clear of the point(s) to be clarified and ask these as individual questions .

•Listen attentively

When receiving a response , concentrate on what the person is really saying. Put your opinions on hold , as this will stop you from understanding the information. Wait for the respondent to complete his/her train of thought and do not interrupt with more questions .

•Clarify / Summarize

Once you have received a response , it is best to sum up your interpretation to ensure both are on the same page . For example: "What you just said was . . ." . Doing this also gives the respondent confidence that his/her message has been interpreted correctly , leaving no room for doubt going forward .

We can apply the above tips to any situation like a conversation with our managers , our colleagues in different locations or even our clients . Through practice, we should learn to ask questions that help us gather valuable information and understand clearly what is expected of us . This gives us a clear sense of direction and ensures that we are taking the right actions to achieve our desired goals .