3. Skill Builder Become more familiar with types of questions with the following activity.

a. Identify the problem with the following leading questions, and rephrase each question so that it is more effective:

1. In a problem-solving interview: “If everyone works one Saturday morning per month, we can catch up on our backlog by the end of the quarter.

How does that sound to you?”

2. In a selection interview: “You don’t mind traveling once or twice a month, do y ou?”

3. In a survey interview: “We think the best features of our product are its price and durability. What do you think?”

4. In a performance appraisal review:

“Are you still bothered by not getting that p romotion?”

5. In a problem-solving interview: “We’re really optimistic about the new jobsharing plan. What do you think?”

b. For each of the following situations, describe whether an open or closed question would be more appropriate, explaining your choice. If you think more than one question is necessary to discover the essential information, list each one.

1. You want to find out whether your boss would support your request to attend a convention in a distant city.

2. A manager wants to know whether a project will exceed its projected budget.

3. An insurance sales representative wants to determine whether a customer has adequate coverage.

4. An employer wants to find out why an applicant has held four jobs in 5 years.

c. For each of the following situations, write one factual and one opinion question.

Decide which of these questions is most appropriate for the situation, and write two secondary questions as follows-ups for the primary question you have chosen:

1. You want to know whether you are justified in asking your boss for a raise, and you decide to question a co-worker.

2. A supervisor wants to discover whether an employee’s request for a 1-month personal leave of absence to visit a sick parent is essential.

3. You are planning to buy a laptop or a desktop PC. You want to decide whether the laptop computer is worth the extra $250 it will cost.

d. For each of the following direct questions, create an indirect question that could elicit the same information:
1. “How hard a worker are you?”
(selection)
2. “Do you agree with my evaluation?”
(appraisal)
3. “Does the product have any drawbacks?”
( sales)
4. “Are you telling me the real reason you’re leaving?” (exit)
5. “Do you really believe my idea is a good one, or are you just going along?”
(problem s olving)