Asking Instead of Answering

One-way communication is not engaging. Although telling is easy, asking and listening lead to more effective conversations. As communicators, we can guide people affected by a crisis to adopt positive public health actions that work for them through self-discovery.

Asking questions is a deliberate action. These active exchanges create awareness for communicators and communities, exposing explicit information needs. The key is to help your audience identify its own insight.

• Ask the right questions.
• Receive feedback.
• Offer the right information.

A community that comes up with its own solution will often take ownership of that idea. Crisis communicators can help by asking leading questions that make the right connections. Allowing people to persuade themselves is not an easy process. Done poorly, it can seem condescending or manipulative. It takes practice and empathy, but it is worth the effort and is the most effective way to gain a community’s acceptance in thought and behavior.