Buzz
I come from a quiet community. My classmates and I often struggled with asking questions during class, or even realizing when we had questions. I wish I had someone like historian and professor Jacqueline Antonovich, who recently shared a helpful tip for encouraging students to speak up. She simply rephrases 'Any questions?' to 'What questions do you have for me?'
'Any questions?' can imply—especially to a reserved, overly-polite group—that you'd prefer to move on, that questions are burdensome, or that asking them suggests you're falling behind. But a good educator or speaker wants their audience to engage, to ensure understanding, and to show that their words have sparked curiosity.
This is just as important in the professional world. If you've presented a marketing plan, pitch deck, or budget, you need immediate feedback. The last thing you want is for everyone to keep their concerns to themselves and then spring them on you days later, undermining all your hard work because you thought there were no questions or comments.
Ask for feedback in a way that not only expects it but even encourages it. Set aside time for it, value the feedback you receive, and ensure people feel positive about speaking up.
Check out the responses to Dr. Antonovich for additional communication strategies that go beyond education. For example, professor Miranda Hajduk avoids using 'you' in critiques, instead saying 'The essay gets lost here' or 'This slide confuses me.' Professor Angela Jenks renamed her 'office hours' to 'student hours' to better clarify their purpose.
