ARTICLES

What do you say to people who reply you with “Don’t know”

 

Have you ever gotten frustrated because the first answer to any question you ask others is, “Don’t know”.

What can you say to help others to answer your question?

How do you get others to reply you without giving you a blank look?

How do you handle such passive aggressive response?

 

Handling “I don’t know”

Most people will try to rephrase the same question differently.

Here’s a different approach that could work.

You can ask a presuppositional question: “Suppose if you know, what will you say?”

This catches some people by surprise. They could answer you instead of falling to their usual reply.

 

Presuppositional questions help a person think further on what could be done or said, instead of falling back to their usual response and not wanting to think further. Ask good questions and you will get good answers.

 

 

PS: If you are looking at how to ask better presuppositional questions in your coaching conversations, work with us at Coaching For Leaders.

Picture of Kenneth Kwan, CSP
Kenneth Kwan, CSP

Kenneth Kwan is an internationally recognized Author, Global Leadership and Motivational Speaker, renowned for his ability to inspire and empower audiences worldwide. With over a decade of experience, he has spoken to leaders from 40 countries, helping transform cultures and shift mindsets within Multi-National Companies (MNCs) and Government Organizations. Kenneth’s expertise in solution-focused thinking and strategic planning has guided numerous businesses toward significant results and high-performance environments. Featured in esteemed media outlets like Channel News Asia and Malaysia's BFM89.9, his insights on leadership and motivation are highly sought after. Kenneth's book, "Small Steps To Big Changes," showcases his profound wisdom and practical strategies, making a lasting impact in lectures and training programs across the region.