August 05, 2004
Power of a Question
Making a question is indispensable for effective communication.
My English and programming skill have big room to improve. At least once a day, I encounter the situation in which I cannot see the CEO’s instruction. In such situation, I tend to show just my confusion. He is kind, so he starts the whole story once again, using easier words. But it takes time. If I made a good question, he could spend less time and I could understnad easier.
There must be a good question. Such a question will show not only what you need to understand, but also what you know already. This will help your partner make a strategy for an effective explanation to you.
Indeed, questions are important in any kinds of communication in the US. I hear many questions when I talk with American. They are good at getting information by them. They also build relationship by them. Questions are the key of communication. So, I like to exercise making effective questions when I receive instructions.
By the way, when I went out of the office for lunch, I saw a strange thing. A train was moving in the road in front of the office. It was not a streetcar but a full scale train. Here is the photo.
