A Careful Listener
Listening is important to teamwork and meeting your job assignments accurately and safely. When asking questions, do so at the appropriate points and try where possible to restate your supervisor and instructing person’s position in your own words. This way there is no room left to chance or doubt.
Do not ask questions that sound like you are trying to show off how much you know over the instructor. Remember, be courteous and use body language to indicate interest, support, and understanding. Sit-up and look alert. Look at the person speaking and make frequent eye contact. Take appropriate notes when necessary.
Extending your open-minded attitude expresses open-ended questions. Open minded questions begin with “How”, “Why”, or “What”.
When you are pretty sure of the task assignment, use closed-ended questions to gain very specific information to be sure you understand a previous answer. Closed-ended questions begin with “Who”, “Which”, or “When”.
