Closed-ended questions
Closed-ended questions require a specific and direct answer to a specific and direct question. The answer is often implied by the question itself. You may think of closed-ended questions as those that only elicit a yes or no answer. This is true to some extent, but they can be very useful when trying to help your employees sort through and narrow down a number of options.
Here’s an example of a closed-ended question you would frame after hearing a few proposals: “If your options are to continue working on this program with William or begin a new program from scratch, which option best meets your needs and the needs of the company?”
Use these questions to clarify a situation with employees in order to develop a common understanding, or to call attention to a situation that you believe needs some action or further steps. For example: “Is this the kind of communication the two of you typically use together? Is it working for you? Would you be willing to try something different?”