When seeking advice from a professional, whether it’s a mentor, consultant, or industry expert, the quality of the advice you receive often depends on the quality of the questions you ask. Vague, unclear questions can lead to equally vague answers, leaving you without actionable insights. On the other hand, specific and well-thought-out questions pave the way for detailed, targeted advice that you can implement immediately.

Asking great questions is an art. It requires clarity, precision, and a focus on outcomes.

Be Clear and Specific
One of the biggest mistakes people make when asking for advice is being too vague. Questions like “What should I do next in my career?” or “How do I become successful?” are too broad to yield useful answers. To get the best advice, you need to ask questions that are focused and specific.

Here’s how to add clarity and specificity to your questions:

Narrow Down the Topic: Instead of asking broad questions, focus on one area at a time. For example, instead of asking “How do I improve my business?” try “How can I increase customer retention in my business?” This gives the advisor a clear direction and allows them to provide more relevant advice.

Define the Context: Providing context helps the person you’re asking understand your unique situation. For example, if you’re asking for advice on managing a team, mention the size of your team, your industry, and any challenges you’ve already encountered. This will lead to more tailored advice.

Example: Instead of asking “How do I grow my career?” ask “I’m a marketing manager looking to transition into a leadership role. What skills should I focus on developing over the next year to achieve that?”

Provide Context
Good advice depends on a clear understanding of your specific situation. When asking a question, make sure you provide enough background information to give context to the person offering advice. The more they understand your circumstances, the better equipped they are to provide meaningful insights.

Here’s how to provide helpful context:

Explain Your Current Situation: Describe where you are now—whether it’s in your career, business, or a specific project. Share the relevant details that will help the advisor understand your starting point.

Outline Your Challenges: Be open about the challenges you’re facing. If you’re struggling with something specific, let the advisor know. The more specific your challenges, the more targeted their advice can be.

Share Your Goals: Clearly state what you hope to achieve. This will help the person providing advice frame their response in a way that aligns with your objectives.

Example: Instead of asking “How do I improve my team’s performance?” try “I’m managing a team of five in a tech startup, and we’ve been struggling with meeting our quarterly goals. What steps can I take to improve productivity and motivation within the team?”

Avoid Vague Queries
Vagueness in questions leads to generic answers, which are rarely actionable. If you want advice that you can implement, make sure your questions are direct and avoid ambiguity. The more detailed and thoughtful your question, the more valuable the response.

Here’s how to avoid vagueness:

Ask Open-Ended, Yet Focused Questions: While yes/no questions can sometimes be helpful, open-ended questions often lead to deeper insights. However, make sure they’re focused enough to elicit specific responses. For example, instead of asking “Should I change careers?” try “What factors should I consider when deciding whether to change careers?”

Specify What You’re Looking For: If you’re asking for guidance, make it clear whether you want strategic advice, personal experiences, or practical steps. This helps the advisor tailor their response.

Example: Avoid asking, “How do I get better at time management?” Instead, ask, “I struggle with balancing client meetings and administrative tasks—what time management strategies would help me allocate my time more effectively?”

Follow-Up Questions
Asking follow-up questions is a powerful way to dive deeper into the advice you receive. Once you’ve asked your initial question and gotten a response, consider following up with more targeted questions that address specific points or provide further clarification.

Here’s how to effectively ask follow-up questions:

Clarify Points: If the advice you receive is unclear or you need further explanation, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. For example, “Can you explain what you mean by focusing on core skills?” or “How would you apply that in a small business setting?”

Explore Alternatives: If the advice seems like one of several possible approaches, ask about other options. For example, “That’s one approach—are there other strategies you’d recommend for achieving similar results?”

Ask for Examples: If the advice is theoretical, ask for real-world examples or case studies. This can help you better understand how to implement the advice. For example, “Can you give me an example of how that strategy worked for one of your clients?”

Example: After receiving advice about improving customer retention, a follow-up question could be, “That’s helpful—what specific tools or platforms would you recommend for tracking customer satisfaction and engagement?”

Crafting specific, actionable questions is the key to unlocking the best professional advice. By narrowing your focus, providing context, avoiding vague questions, and asking thoughtful follow-ups, you can guide your advisors toward giving you the most relevant and useful insights.

Remember, great advice starts with great questions. The clearer and more targeted your inquiry, the more likely you are to receive valuable guidance that you can implement right away. Next time you seek advice, take the time to craft your questions with precision, and watch as the quality of the advice you receive improves.