Threading: Every Answer Has Three Doors
When someone answers, pick out two or three things they mentioned and choose one to ask about next.
The threading method itself is coaching advice; the solid evidence is for follow-up questions in general.
Why it works
Every answer contains new topics. If you listen for them, you never need to think up a fresh question, and the other person feels heard.
How to do it
- Listen for nouns: places, people, events, feelings.
- Note two or three silently.
- Pick the one with most energy behind it.
- Save the others for when this thread ends.
What to say
You said you moved from Indore. What made you move?
Going back to the new plant you mentioned, how is that going?
Avoid
Ignoring what they said and moving to your next planned question.
Example
A food company HR head said she had come from Bengaluru, was setting up a new team and hated the traffic. Devendra had three doors and used all three over twenty minutes.
Practise it
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