In an Improvisation class, the teacher gently called me a pimp. I asked a question when I already knew the answer. They refer to this as pimping (or getting someone else to do the work for you.) I was busted and I knew it was true!
I read that 80% of the questions are really statements in disguise. That percentage seemed pretty high, so I tested it out for myself. I listened more closely to audience members in large public seminars. Rather than being direct and voicing their opinion, people turned statements into questions like, “Don’t you think it’d be better to do _______________?” You can fill in the blank with just about anything. Test it out for yourself. Listen when people ask questions and discern if they really want to know your answer or are merely getting you to do the work for them. Maybe they’re too timid to state their opinion directly. In either case, be aware when questions are true questions and when they’re not.
I saw a speaker recently give a long answer to something that was clearly not a question. It was pretty clear to the other audience members. That’s when credibility slips a notch and the end result of the speech isn’t as effective as it could have been.
We all have blind spots. That’s why there are coaches.