How to Phrase Your Questions When You Need Honest Answers

Oftentimes at work, we encounter situations that require us to uncover the truth. Your manager may not want to tell you that you don’t have a chance at a promotion this year because they fear they’d upset you or trigger a conflict. Or your team member may tell a self-serving lie to avoid getting blamed for a delay on a project. In a serious instance of employee misconduct or when things go terribly awry on a project, you may need to gather truthful information and compile evidence to make a decision or find a way forward. Simply asking, “How did you miss that critical piece of information?” or “Why didn’t I get promoted?” aren’t enough.