There are many ways that you can use probing in your conversations. We’ve provided some techniques for you below.

Ask an open question, such as:

• “Can you describe that more clearly?”
• “Would you give me a specific example of what you mean?”
• “What do you think we should do?”

You’ll soon recognize that if you ask too many of these questions, your conversation partner will feel like they are under interrogation, so use them carefully.

Pause. Many of us feel uncomfortable when silence overtakes a conversation, and we will fill the silence by expanding on what was said previously.