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Mastering Follow-Up Questions: A Must-Have Skill for International Professionals

Being able to ask effective follow-up questions can be a game-changer in the workplace. However, it’s a tough skill to master, especially if English is not your native tongue. Find out why it's worth the effort to sharpen it.


Signpost with signs. Signs have question words on them.

Content:


What Are Follow-Up Questions?

 

Follow-up questions invite your conversation partner to give you more detail or context on what they said in an earlier response or comment. Here are two examples (follow-up questions in bold):

 

Networking at a Food Fair:

Attendee 1: How are you finding the event so far?

Attendee 2: I think it’s great. I’m a foodie, so I love everything linked to food.

Attendee 1: Yes, me too. Do you have a favorite cuisine? 

 

Project Update Conversation:

Colleague A: I finished the report for the client yesterday.

Colleague B: That’s great! What feedback are you expecting from them?

 

The purpose of follow-up questions is to gain a better understanding of your conversation partner’s thoughts, experiences, needs, or expectations.

 

But there’s more …


Why Follow-Up Questions Are So Powerful

 

A black chalkboard with a wooden frame. The chalkboard has "Follow Up" written on it.

Follow-up questions impact how you are perceived. They build trust. In teams, they promote good cooperation. Research even shows that people who ask more questions are seen as more likable!

 

Here’s why:

 

  • Follow-up questions show that you’ve been listening. We all want to be heard – and we get upset when we realize others are not paying attention to us. A genuine follow-up question shows that you are not just waiting your turn to speak but are actively engaged in the conversation.


  • Follow-up questions show that you are interested in your conversation partner’s experiences, perspectives, and expectations. By inviting them to tell you more, you show that you care about their views.


  • Follow-up questions demonstrate an openness to learning. They allow you to fill knowledge gaps and gain a deeper understanding of a topic.


  • Follow-up questions can help clear up confusion. That can prevent misunderstandings and improve teamwork. For non-native speakers, clarifying follow-up questions are particularly important for better understanding.


  • Follow-up questions move conversations from surface-level to deeper dialogs. Whether at a networking event or in a meeting, discussions often begin lightly. Most people share their thoughts gradually, not all at once. Genuine follow-up questions can guide the conversation from small talk to more meaningful exchanges.


Why Asking Follow-Up Questions Can Be Tough

 

The biggest challenge is that you need to be fully engaged in the conversation. You need to listen closely to come up with a suitable follow-up question.

 

Follow-up questions need to have some link to what your conversation partner said. Abruptly switching topics is not beneficial. On the contrary, it can hurt the relationship, because it suggests that you have not been listening, are bored, or are not interested.

 

Some people shy away from asking follow-up questions because they don’t want to appear nosy. That's a valid concern. Probing too much can be intrusive and damage trust. Follow-up questions require sensitivity and skillful delivery.

 

Follow-up questions are not meant to turn into a cross-examination. Make sure to reveal some things about yourself in the conversation to establish a balance. Remember my blog about US conversation style and that it’s like tennis.


Why It's Even Tougher for Non-Native Speakers

 

Non-native speakers face additional difficulties.

 

  • Lack of understanding: To come up with a good follow-up question, you need to be able to understand your conversation partner. Local accents, fast speaking pace, unfamiliar words, and unknown cultural references can make it hard to grasp the meaning of a comment.


  • Insufficient ad-hoc speaking skills: You may struggle to find the right words or construct grammatically correct follow-up questions on the spot.


  • Fear of appearing incompetent: You may hesitate to ask clarifying questions because you worry that it will make you appear less competent or intelligent.


  • Cultural hurdles: In the U.S. workplace, communication tends to be egalitarian. People of different ranks (e.g. managers and junior team members) often communicate at eye-level. If you come from a more hierarchical culture, you may hesitate to ask follow-up questions for fear of overstepping boundaries.


    Differences in communication style, such as the level of directness, can create uncertainty about how to frame your questions. If you are from a culture that prioritizes indirect communication, asking a direct question can feel uncomfortable.


    You may also simply not know what to ask, because you don’t have enough background knowledge about the topic discussed. There is not enough shared cultural context between you and your conversation partner.


Five Tips for Sharpening Your Skills

 

1. Don’t pretend.

Don't pretend that you understood when you didn’t. Whether you didn’t understand your counterpart for linguistic or cultural reasons, ask them to repeat or explain their statement. For example, you might say: I’m sorry. I didn’t quite get that. Could you say that again? or What do you mean by that? Asking for clarification is a follow-up question in itself!


2. Ask open questions.

In an earlier blog post, I wrote about the difference between open and closed questions. A closed question can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no". An open question invites more details. For example:

 

Closed: Are you enjoying the conference presentations?

Open: Which conference speaker have you enjoyed the most so far?

 

Closed: Do you think we can improve the process?

Open: What are your thoughts on how we can improve this process?

 

You will have an easier time developing a meaningful conversation if you ask open questions.

 

3. Don’t just ask mirror questions. 

A small white dog looking in a mirror

Mirror questions simply repeat back what someone has just said. They are polite, but don’t show much effort to engage deeper. For instance, if someone asks, "Are you enjoying the conference?" and you respond with "I am, how about you?"—this is polite, but it’s not a follow-up question. True follow-up questions aim to explore further and encourage a more meaningful dialogue, rather than simply mirroring the original question.

 

5. Bridge cultural differences.

Use cultural differences to engage in follow-up questions. Genuine questions can serve as bridges between different communication styles or cultural norms. They show your interest in understanding others.

 

5. Learn and practice.

Grow your cultural competency to frame questions appropriately. Build cross-cultural awareness to interpret comments accurately. Strengthen your language skills to construct effective questions. Practice spontaneous conversations in both simulated and real-life situations with low-stakes audiences or a coach.

 

I'm a communication skills coach and I can help you and your team develop your spontaneous speaking skills and master the art of asking ad-hoc questions. Contact me for a free consultation!



 


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