The right questions provide structure to your performance interview. Here are some general guidelines:

• Ask one question at a time, instead of trying to get to everything at once.
• Phrase the question in simple, easily understandable words and terms that don’t intimidate your conversation partner.
• Keep your questions brief. Questions that are more than two sentences in length are too long; break them up and ask them as two or more questions.
• Keep your phrasing positive. Reframe negative questions to make them more positive, which will encourage conversation.
• Use open questions to get more information, rather than relying on closed questions.
• Follow up on incomplete answers by probing for more information.