Employee Dispute Resolution: Mediation Through Peer Review

Asking Good Questions As a panel member, one of your most important tools is the ability to ask effective questions. Done well, questioning helps you uncover facts, clarify misunderstandings, and ensure a fair hearing for all parties. Tips for Questioning Witnesses Before diving into question types, keep these principles in mind: Evaluate how **credible and reliable** each statement is, no matter how unusual it seems. Remain **open-minded** — search for facts, not opinions or judgments. Give participants the **perception that you have not prejudged** the matter. **Do not appear hostile**, assign blame, or use put-downs. **Listen respectfully** without interrupting. Ask questions to **gain clarity**, not to make a point or push a personal agenda. Open vs. Closed Questions **Closed questions** can be answered with a simple "yes," "no," or a specific piece of data. They restrict conversation and can lead you to make assumptions. Example: *"Do you like this policy?"* **Open questions** encourage people to talk and cannot be answered with a simple yes or no. They often begin with *who, what, when, where, why,* or *how.* Example: *"What aspects of this policy concern you most?"* Open questions help you: **Get information** **Focus conversations** **Solicit opinions** **Gain consensus** If you accidentally ask a closed question, simply follow it with an open one: *"Can you help me understand why you feel