Effective Questioning Techniques for Trainers

Key importance for all trainers is how to ask the right questions to ensure that participants in a training program understand the concepts presented. There are a variety of techniques to use and certainly some combination of all should be used in every training program you teach.

Here are some to consider:

Recall: I use this technique in a multiple day workshop. At the beginning of the next day, I review the material with questions such as:

• What’s the first step in addressing a problem?
• What is the first step you should do in negotiating with a vendor?

Opinion:  Use this technique to get the participants thinking about particular topics covered in the classroom and their thoughts on those topics. For example:

• Why do many people believe negotiations can’t be win/win situations?
• Why do you believe it is difficult to get people to change?

Compare and Contrast: Use this technique to get the participants to compare and contrast concepts. For example:

• Compare and contrast MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server. What are the pros and cons of each?
• Compare and contrast diesel vs. gasoline trucks. Why choose one over the other?

Case Scenarios: Case scenarios enable participants to put to practice what they are learning in the classroom. Use case studies relevant to the business. Provide the participants short scenarios about two companies or two situations. For example, you might use case studies of two companies who have taken different paths to market and sell similar products. Ask the class which company made a better choice and why one is more successful than the other. Or look at two companies that hires graduates right out of college. One has an onboarding program and one does not. Which is more successful and why?
How about you? What questioning techniques do you use in the classroom? What have you found successful? Please share with others in the Comments field below.