Communication Expert Advises Against Vague Questions When Others Stay Silent

A communication therapist is advising people to reconsider their questioning techniques when conversations fall flat, suggesting that vague inquiries may be the root cause of unresponsive interactions. The expert recalls learning this lesson as a teenager when her mother, a kindergarten teacher, explained that young children cannot meaningfully respond to broad questions like "How are you?" The same principle applies to adult conversations, where specific, concrete questions tend to elicit better responses than general ones. The advice comes as part of ongoing discussions about effective communication techniques in both personal and professional settings.