Effective Questioning & Challenge – developing the right skills to get your views across

The Council of Governors:• Holds board of directors to account (primarily

through the NEDs)for the performance of the trust

• Represents the interests of patients, staff, public, service users, carers and other local organisations involved in the running of the foundation trust

• Helps shape the future direction of the organisation

QUESTIONS

Why do we ask them?Why don’t we ask them?

How do we ask them?

Some of the reasons why we ask questions:

• To help clarify• To evaluate what’s happening • To broaden debate• To cause deeper thought• To create time and space to stand back• To create expectation• To encourage high standards

Some of the things that stop us:• Bad experience with asking or answering questions• Lack of skills in asking or answering questions

• Lack of experience or opportunities• Lack of training• Lack of mentoring

• Perceived lack of knowledge• Corporate cultures and working environments that

discourage questions

Types of questions:• Open – expansive, promote reflection,

probing, clarifying, exploratory• Closed – can be used to limit debate and

make decisions, to find out specific information, to identify preferences, to bring something to closure and move ahead

Ways of asking questions:• Passive - when we’re not confident in our

view• Aggressive – when we feel frustrated or

feel it’s the only way to make ourselves heard

• Assertive – based on need, rationale, logic

I keep six honest serving men,They taught me all I knew;

Their names are What and Why and When

And How and Where and Who.Rudyard Kipling

Group exerciseAs a group, look at the Quality Dashboard and narrative for Q3 (on your tables) and come up with some questions you’d want to ask and how you would ask them. Maybe think about:•An assumption you want to question•Something that is not clear•Something you want to challenge•Something that is missing that you feel should be there•Are your questions open or closed?•Are they assertive, passive, aggressive?•Will they help you get the answers you need?

Tips for asking your questions and getting your views across:• Prepare beforehand• Keep it succinct• Listen• Build on response to the previous question• Respect others• Be assertive (not too passive, not aggressive)• Be constructive and supportive• Be willing to reflect, develop and learn• Remember you are part of a team – you are doing it together

Next Steps:For you• Identify one thing that you will now do differently that will

help you perform your role as a governor• Complete our short survey about the session, so that we can

evaluate its usefulnessFor us• We will send you a tips sheet and examples of some good

questions including those we have come to today• We will review the feedback you give us and decide whether

to include this session (or similar) in future programmes

“The fool wonders, The wise man asks.”

Benjamin Disraeli