You might try telling them how you want them to answer. "Can you tell me in a few words how you would X?" You may not get what you want the first time, but jus

You might try telling them how you want them to answer. "Can you tell me in a few words how you would X?" You may not get what you want the first time, but just keep politely giving them guidance, and eventually you will "train" them on how you like to get answers. When they successfully give you a succinct and cogent response, thank them: "Wow, that was very well stated. Let me repeat it back to you: Z. Perfect, thank you." In terms of why this happens, they may be formulating an answer on the fly, but feel like they have to start talking immediately. So, they're working through a half-formed thought in real time. There's that old joke: "I'm sorry this letter is so long, I didn't have time to write a shorter one." Simple is hard. I struggle with this at work, too. I'll ask a question that I hope is a one word, or at most one paragraph answer. Five minutes later, I'm grinding my teeth, thinking "stop filibustering this meeting."