Recently, I was consulting a CEO on strategic presentation skills, they tended to keep talking without stopping and needed some work to better connect with the people in the room. We talked about the importance of pausing during the presentation and asking a question to engage the audience. With this small adjustment, speaking became more impactful, and the message connected.
One of the best ways to achieve engagement is by using open-ended questions, questions that encourage your colleagues to share ideas and opinions, and by carefully listening to what they say you will kindle mutual respect.
Here are some of my favorite opened-ended questions:
What inspires you?
What is the most meaningful part of your job?
What do you value most in life?
Would you tell me more about ___?
What’s the most important priority for you with this?
Who benefits from your vision?
Try finding opportunities to ask questions and see how quickly you engage people when you listen to what they have to say.