ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

Leading questions suggest that the facilitator or mediator

approves of a particular answer:

 Wouldn’t it work if……..?

 How about……………………..?

Why questions tend to make people defensive and can be

hard to answer:
 Why aren’t you talking…….?
 Why did you do that………..?

Substitute why questions with what(what questions ask for

specific descriptions):
 Can you tell me what makes is hard for you to be
participating?
 Tell me what you were thinking when you did that?

Open ended questions help you to get more information and

understanding. Closed ended questions beg a yes or no
answer.

Phoebe Barash
Adapted from The Friends Conflict Resolution Program and Sandi Adams
EARCOS
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