How do you ask a question?  Do you ask intelligent questions?  Does your question result in answers that you were seeking?  Can you call your questions informed ones?

Importance of Asking Intelligent Questions

If you are going to ask a question, make sure that it has been well thought of.  Do not ask questions just for the sake of asking them.  If you do, your questions may come across as stupid or absurd.  There are questions with quite obvious answers.  These questions should not have been asked in the first place as this may only irritate the recipient of your question.  Most of the time, you’d probably get a dismissal or an irritated answer.

Your question also reflects you.  Your questions reflect how you think and how you perceive things.  There are people who would even gauge your intelligence through your questions.  An intelligent man would ask intelligent questions.  That’s how people perceive it.  By asking intelligent questions, you effectively extract from people the information that you need.  You’d noticed that some questions can prompt people on their feet, ready to furnish you with the things that you need while there are questions that would leave people annoyed.

When you ask intelligent questions, you also allow the person you’re asking questions from to think.  People are forced to think.  This is especially true if you are asking questions that are well-crafted and well-thought of.  This opens the door for many answers, possibilities, and ideas.  You don’t really have to ask a lot of questions in order to get the answer you are seeking.  The key is to ask intelligent questions instead.

Tips on How to Ask Intelligent Questions

Now, how do you ask intelligent questions?
a.    Ask appropriate questions.  If you want to open a dialogue and leave room for discussions, ask an open question.  If you would like to ask a question which does not open a room for a dialogue, ask closed questions.
b.    Do not ask vague questions.  Phrase your question in a manner that your listener would know what you need from them.
c.    Be respectful and gracious.  You would avoid arguments by being respectful.  You may have a different view, but you have to learn to respect somebody else’s view.
d.    Never ask question just for the sake of asking anything.  This annoys people.
e.    Start with simple questions.  People will be more receptive in this way.