Comments on: Asking Questions More Effectively http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/ Entrepreneur turned VC Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: inboulder http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-7811 inboulder Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:07:26 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-7811 This was good advice up until:<br>"“I’m very fond of Bob. We’ve obviously had a great experience interviewing him or we wouldn’t be doing reference calls. But I do want to be sure I hear any potential downsides. One thing we picked up from another reference call was that Bob has at times fought with co-workers. When this happened at your firm, do you think it was at Bob’s instigation?”<br><br>That’s pretty narrow. And I’ve applied a “assumptive question” as in “we know there was conflict with Bob at your firm” even if I didn’t know whether it was true. In this case I’m looking for the reference to deny my statement or to provide evidence that Bob didn’t cause conflicts. "<br><br>If I were a candidate and my reference informed me you'd asked an obvious 'interrogation-style' question like this, I would lose respect and seriously consider withdrawing my application. Life is too short to work with people who'd stoop to such childish and dickish behavior. This was good advice up until:
““I’m very fond of Bob. We’ve obviously had a great experience interviewing him or we wouldn’t be doing reference calls. But I do want to be sure I hear any potential downsides. One thing we picked up from another reference call was that Bob has at times fought with co-workers. When this happened at your firm, do you think it was at Bob’s instigation?”

That’s pretty narrow. And I’ve applied a “assumptive question” as in “we know there was conflict with Bob at your firm” even if I didn’t know whether it was true. In this case I’m looking for the reference to deny my statement or to provide evidence that Bob didn’t cause conflicts. “

If I were a candidate and my reference informed me you'd asked an obvious 'interrogation-style' question like this, I would lose respect and seriously consider withdrawing my application. Life is too short to work with people who'd stoop to such childish and dickish behavior.

]]> By: inboulder http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-8955 inboulder Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:07:26 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-8955 This was good advice up until:<br>"“I’m very fond of Bob. We’ve obviously had a great experience interviewing him or we wouldn’t be doing reference calls. But I do want to be sure I hear any potential downsides. One thing we picked up from another reference call was that Bob has at times fought with co-workers. When this happened at your firm, do you think it was at Bob’s instigation?”<br><br>That’s pretty narrow. And I’ve applied a “assumptive question” as in “we know there was conflict with Bob at your firm” even if I didn’t know whether it was true. In this case I’m looking for the reference to deny my statement or to provide evidence that Bob didn’t cause conflicts. "<br><br>If I were a candidate and my reference informed me you'd asked an obvious 'interrogation-style' question like this, I would lose respect and seriously consider withdrawing my application. Life is too short to work with people who'd stoop to such childish and dickish behavior. This was good advice up until:
““I’m very fond of Bob. We’ve obviously had a great experience interviewing him or we wouldn’t be doing reference calls. But I do want to be sure I hear any potential downsides. One thing we picked up from another reference call was that Bob has at times fought with co-workers. When this happened at your firm, do you think it was at Bob’s instigation?”

That’s pretty narrow. And I’ve applied a “assumptive question” as in “we know there was conflict with Bob at your firm” even if I didn’t know whether it was true. In this case I’m looking for the reference to deny my statement or to provide evidence that Bob didn’t cause conflicts. “

If I were a candidate and my reference informed me you'd asked an obvious 'interrogation-style' question like this, I would lose respect and seriously consider withdrawing my application. Life is too short to work with people who'd stoop to such childish and dickish behavior.

]]> By: Abhaya Agarwal http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-7809 Abhaya Agarwal Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:41:15 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-7809 I think this is excellent advice. But I wonder what happens when both the parties try to apply the same principle? Who speaks? I am asking since I often meet with fellow entrepreneurs for comparing notes and there both sides are pretty much on equal footing - both have stuff to share and both want to learn. So do you take turns asking wide questions? Worse, does knowing this hampers how you answer wide questions, thus making them less useful for the the other person?<br><br>Abhaya I think this is excellent advice. But I wonder what happens when both the parties try to apply the same principle? Who speaks? I am asking since I often meet with fellow entrepreneurs for comparing notes and there both sides are pretty much on equal footing – both have stuff to share and both want to learn. So do you take turns asking wide questions? Worse, does knowing this hampers how you answer wide questions, thus making them less useful for the the other person?

Abhaya

]]> By: Abhaya Agarwal http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-8956 Abhaya Agarwal Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:41:15 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-8956 I think this is excellent advice. But I wonder what happens when both the parties try to apply the same principle? Who speaks? I am asking since I often meet with fellow entrepreneurs for comparing notes and there both sides are pretty much on equal footing - both have stuff to share and both want to learn. So do you take turns asking wide questions? Worse, does knowing this hampers how you answer wide questions, thus making them less useful for the the other person?<br><br>Abhaya I think this is excellent advice. But I wonder what happens when both the parties try to apply the same principle? Who speaks? I am asking since I often meet with fellow entrepreneurs for comparing notes and there both sides are pretty much on equal footing – both have stuff to share and both want to learn. So do you take turns asking wide questions? Worse, does knowing this hampers how you answer wide questions, thus making them less useful for the the other person?

Abhaya

]]> By: Kbraswell http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-7807 Kbraswell Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:03:34 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-7807 as my grandmother said....you have two ears, one mouth...you should listen twice as much. as my grandmother said….you have two ears, one mouth…you should listen twice as much.

]]> By: Kbraswell http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-8957 Kbraswell Sat, 12 Jun 2010 02:03:34 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-8957 as my grandmother said....you have two ears, one mouth...you should listen twice as much. as my grandmother said….you have two ears, one mouth…you should listen twice as much.

]]> By: Mark Burdette http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-7804 Mark Burdette Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:28:31 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-7804 Mark - Great post! I couldn't agree more. One of my favorite authors Andy Andrews once said in a presentation that has stuck with me ever since then. He said, "The quality of your question determines the quality of your answer". I have found that works really well with the "narrow" questions but with the "wide" ones as well. Mark – Great post! I couldn't agree more. One of my favorite authors Andy Andrews once said in a presentation that has stuck with me ever since then. He said, “The quality of your question determines the quality of your answer”. I have found that works really well with the “narrow” questions but with the “wide” ones as well.

]]> By: Mark Burdette http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-8958 Mark Burdette Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:28:31 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-8958 Mark - Great post! I couldn't agree more. One of my favorite authors Andy Andrews once said in a presentation that has stuck with me ever since then. He said, "The quality of your question determines the quality of your answer". I have found that works really well with the "narrow" questions but with the "wide" ones as well. Mark – Great post! I couldn't agree more. One of my favorite authors Andy Andrews once said in a presentation that has stuck with me ever since then. He said, “The quality of your question determines the quality of your answer”. I have found that works really well with the “narrow” questions but with the “wide” ones as well.

]]> By: Latif Nanji http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-7802 Latif Nanji Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-7802 Excellent article. I've found as an entrepreneur that asking questions effectively both in business and outside of work are vital to developing relationships - it is also a great indicator of how people think about a particular situation.<br><br>I've found it extremely useful to pose questions in a a general way to individuals whom I think have a vast range of knowledge, and specific questions to 'long winded' talkers. Excellent article. I've found as an entrepreneur that asking questions effectively both in business and outside of work are vital to developing relationships – it is also a great indicator of how people think about a particular situation.

I've found it extremely useful to pose questions in a a general way to individuals whom I think have a vast range of knowledge, and specific questions to 'long winded' talkers.

]]> By: Latif Nanji http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/06/06/asking-questions-more-effectively/comment-page-3/#comment-8959 Latif Nanji Thu, 10 Jun 2010 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2769#comment-8959 Excellent article. I've found as an entrepreneur that asking questions effectively both in business and outside of work are vital to developing relationships - it is also a great indicator of how people think about a particular situation.<br><br>I've found it extremely useful to pose questions in a a general way to individuals whom I think have a vast range of knowledge, and specific questions to 'long winded' talkers. Excellent article. I've found as an entrepreneur that asking questions effectively both in business and outside of work are vital to developing relationships – it is also a great indicator of how people think about a particular situation.

I've found it extremely useful to pose questions in a a general way to individuals whom I think have a vast range of knowledge, and specific questions to 'long winded' talkers.

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