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I started asking 'what's the one thing you'd change?' instead of 'any feedback?'

I was getting vague replies on my project posts here for months, so last Tuesday I tried that specific question. Suddenly, three people gave me clear, actionable advice on my data sorting issue. Why do you think such a small wording shift makes such a big difference?
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3 Comments
lindaburns
lindaburns18d ago
Specific questions unlock focused answers because vague ones let people off the hook.
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susan_nguyen
Yeah, that's so true. I was reading something about how doctors have to ask very direct questions to get a clear picture of what's wrong, because if they just ask "how are you feeling" people will just say "fine." It totally applies to everyday stuff too, like trying to get a straight answer from a contractor or even a friend about plans. Being vague just lets everyone, including yourself, avoid the hard part of the conversation. You have to pin it down to get anywhere real.
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lunab97
lunab971h ago
Specific questions force people to actually think.
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