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Of course, to get to the point first, you need to really understand what the person is asking. And this is the great art: to read between the lines, understand
by michael_dorfman 17y ago
Of course, to get to the point first, you need to really understand what the person is asking. And this is the great art: to read between the lines, understand their concerns, and respond to the underlying context.
- yason 17y agoAs getting to the point works both ways, it's also helpful to support other people in asking directly by not always willing to read between the lines. I wish people asked things directly more often. It leaves much less to be guessed. If you ask directly sometimes you get a no, sometimes you get a yes, and sometimes you save a shitload of time - for both persons - by directly asking what you want to ask.
- mikewest 17y agoMoreover, if you don't feel like you understand what the other person is asking, don't be afraid of asking a question in return. Ensure that you're clear on what's being asked of you before giving either a rambling answer that covers all the basis, or a focused response to a question that wasn't asked.
- raganwald 17y agoThat's the key, thanks. If you don't understand the original question well enough to give a succinct answer, ask clarifying questions until you can.