Mastering Active Questioning: Boost Your Communication Skills in Interviews

Mastering Interpersonal Skills for Effective Relationships with Owen Hawthorne

Discover the secrets to building strong and meaningful relationships through effective communication strategies. In each episode, we delve into practical relationship advice and explore how interpersonal skills can transform your personal and professional connections. Join us as we share insights and stories that will help you navigate complex communication challenges and enhance your ability to connect with others genuinely. Whether you're looking to improve your communication skills or strengthen your relationships, this podcast is your guide to success.

Why Active Questioning Can Make or Break Your Interview

Hey, have you ever been in an interview where it felt like both you and the interviewer were stuck in a kind of awkward silence? Or worse, where the questions just felt like they weren’t really digging into what either of you needed to know? Well, that’s where active questioning comes into play, and let me tell you, it’s a game changer.

Active questioning isn’t just about firing off a list of questions like a machine gun. It’s more like having a real conversation — one where the questions you ask are thoughtful, responsive, and actually show you're listening and engaged. It transforms the whole experience, not just for the person being interviewed but for the interviewer too.

So, what exactly is active questioning? Think of it as an interview technique where the interviewer listens carefully, picks up on cues, and then crafts questions that really dig beneath the surface. It’s about building rapport, encouraging openness, and gathering meaningful information — all of which rely heavily on strong communication skills. If you can master active questioning, your interviews won’t feel like an interrogation but more like a genuine conversation.

Why does this matter? Because interviews are fundamentally about relationships. Whether it’s a job interview, a media chat, or an informal interview for a project, strong interpersonal skills matter. Active questioning directly contributes to that because it shows respect to the person you’re interviewing, making them feel heard and understood. And when they feel comfortable, they open up much more freely.

• It boosts engagement. When your questions show you’re truly listening, it encourages the interviewee to open up and share more in-depth responses.
• It uncovers hidden insights. People don’t always share everything on the surface. Active questioning helps tap into underlying motivations, feelings, or ideas that might otherwise stay hidden.
• It strengthens connection. Good interviews build relationships, and active questioning is a key part of relationship building.

Here’s a simple example: Imagine you’re interviewing someone who says, “I’ve been working on improving my team’s productivity.” Instead of just moving on, an active question would be, “What specific strategies have you found most effective in boosting productivity?” or “How does your team usually respond to these changes?” This kind of questioning shows you’re engaged and want to understand deeper.

One of the best parts about active questioning is that it’s really a skill anyone can develop. It combines effective communication with curiosity, empathy, and a genuine desire to connect with people. When you’re interviewing, don’t just think about what you want to know; think about how you can make the person feel comfortable enough to share their real story.

Also, active questioning works wonders beyond just interviews. It’s a powerful communication strategy for everyday interactions, whether you're networking, managing a team, or even in your personal relationships. If you’re looking for ways to enhance your communication strategies and boost your overall interaction effectiveness, developing your active questioning ability is a solid place to start.

Quick Tips to Practice Active Questioning

1. Listen fully before asking your next question. This shows respect and gives you a better idea of what to ask next.
2. Ask open-ended questions. These encourage more than yes/no answers and invite stories and elaborations.
3. Follow up on what the person says. Pick up on interesting points and ask for examples or feelings.
4. Use reflective questions. Repeat or paraphrase to confirm you understood correctly, like “So you’re saying...”
5. Be mindful of tone and body language. It’s not just what you ask but how you ask it that matters.

The beauty of this is that you’ll start noticing conversations flow better, and people will naturally want to open up to you. Plus, these are foundational skills in any context where you want to build trust and understanding, from casual chats to formal interviews.

For those of you committed to really leveling up your communication and relationship-building abilities, there’s a fantastic resource I want to mention — the Life Mastery: Communication & Relationships Course. This course goes beyond just interviewing techniques and equips you with valuable tools to improve your overall communication skills and enhance your personal and professional relationships.

Enroll now and start cultivating the kind of communication skills that will help you not just ace interviews but build lasting connections in all areas of your life. You’ll learn how to ask the right questions, listen actively, and communicate with real confidence and empathy.

So next time you’re heading into an interview or any important conversation, remember that the questions you ask matter just as much as the answers you get. Approach every interaction with genuine curiosity and active listening, and you’ll be surprised at how much more rewarding your conversations become.

Thanks for hanging out and chatting about this today. I hope this helps you see interviews as an opportunity to practice your interpersonal skills creatively and effectively.

Master Life: Communication & Relationships Course Take Control of Your Life and Transform Your Relationships. Join Us Now! link Enroll Today