Launchpad Activity 4

In meetings, conversations and when discussing issues, there are many occasions when you need to ask (or answer) a question; it’s important to be articulate and clear so as to build trust and rapport with your colleagues, business associates and professional networks.

Activity 4 – Ask a Topical Question

Duration: 3 mins
Pre-requisites: Activity 1, 2, 3

Outcomes

By the end of this activity, you will be able to:

  1. Present a question with enough supporting material to enable the audience to form an opinion and give an answer

Objectives

To do this, you will need to keep the following objectives in mind:

  • Choose a current and relevant topic on which other members can be expected to be reasonably informed
  • Provide background information on the topic
  • Ask the question succinctly

The Why…

In meetings, conversations and when discussing issues, there are many occasions when you need to ask (or answer) a question; it’s important to be articulate and clear so as to build trust and rapport with your colleagues, business associates and professional networks.

Where do I start?

A few days before the meeting when you have been rostered to ask the Topical Question, start looking at newspapers, television or radio news or news feeds and choose a topic that interests you. Questions that are of interest to you will be easier to prepare and present. 

Be careful about choosing obscure topics. It needs to be something the audience can reasonably be expected to know something about.  Don’t spend huge amounts of time choosing a topic – settle on one quite soon and then start preparing your question.

Questions can be open – people give their point of view, or closed – people answer yes or no. It is up to you to choose what type of question you present. What you have to do for both types of question, is to give different points of view or both sides of the issue so the audience can form an opinion. You don’t necessarily have to give your own point of view at all.

You should provide some balanced background information on the topic, then ask the question. Shortly after, other members will be asked to answer your question.

The How

Specific guidelines on how to tackle this activity.


Choose a current and relevant topic on which other members can be expected to be reasonably informed;

  1. As is usual for Rostrum, avoid highly political or religious topics.
  2. Choose topics where there are at least two clear sides or arguments on which people can form an opinion.

Provide background information on the topic

  1. This doesn’t have to be lengthy. Keep it short and succinct enough for members to have enough background information to form their opinion.
  2. Aim for around 1-2 minutes of background information. 
  3. Try not to present the information in a way which biases the argument, rather give neutral background information which will allow members to form an opinion. 

Ask the question succinctly

When you are the questioner, ask a question that neither suggests the answer nor demands only a ‘yes’ or ‘no’. This gives scope for an informed response.

For example, on the topic of a new traffic-control system at a busy intersection, you would avoid such questions as ‘Do you approve?’ Ask, ‘What advantages (disadvantages) do you see in the new system?

Examples:

  1. CLOSED QUESTION
    1. Should school children be permitted to have mobile phones at school?
      1. Yes, because <list the reasons>
      2. No, because <list the reasons>
  2. OPEN QUESTION
    1. What’s your opinion on children having mobile phones at school?
      1. Well, there are many good reasons that kids should be allowed to have phones at school. Firstly <insert reason>, secondly, <insert reason> and most importantly <insert reason>
      2. There are many reasons kids should and shouldn’t have phones at school. The reasons they shouldn’t are <insert reasons>, and the reasons they should are <insert reasons>. On balance, I think it comes down to when and why they’re using them at school so if it’s for safety or under the instructions of a teacher, then I think it’s fine – but they shouldn’t be allowed to have them on all day and use them for whatever they want. 

Tips and traps

  1. Choose a topic that members of the audience will know something about, will have heard about, and will understand. 
  2. Ask the question at the beginning and (the same question) at the end.
  3. Keep the question short and simple.
  4. Consider the audience: choose a question that everyone can understand.
  5. Keep the question concise and to the point.
  6. Write the question down and give to the Chairperson and the Coach.
  7. Avoid choosing a topic that is your “hobby horse” that other people may not have any view about or care about.
  8. Avoid closed questions which don’t allow scope for elaboration.
  9. Avoid answering your own question.
  10. Avoid self-evident answers.
  11. Don’t go into too much detail. Leave room for the respondents to add their own perspective on the question.

Guidelines for Program Director:

  • See the activity description above.
  • Tell the speaker they need to present a topical question with enough supporting material to enable the audience to form an opinion and give an answer.

Resources that may be helpful

  1. Links to speaking hacks (#7, #9 etc)
  2. video links
  3. how to sheets