Technical jargon: What does "comprehension question" mean?

Asking the right questions is what makes a good consultant. That is an old adage. Those who provide answers to questions that have not even been asked, on the other hand, are considered bad consultants, even if this is sometimes the key to a problem.For some time now, however, a third category of questioners has been increasingly appearing in the communications industry: those who ask comprehension questions. But what does this word actually mean? Doesn't every question serve to obtain additional information from the interviewee and thus to understand something better? Anyone who spends a lot of time in meetings will notice that the cute word is actually a perfidious ambush.

Trap responder

A clarifying example: A marketing manager explains her plan, whereupon a member of the management, an internal "competitor" from sales, communications, CRM, IT or another meeting participant then usually asks a "question of understanding".But beware, questions of understanding, in contrast to simple questions, already communicate: What is said will be met with rejection, no matter what the answer will be. And in our example, the unfortunate marketing manager is already lured into an ambush: If she answers in a self-confidently explanatory manner, then in the second feedback round she is usually sharply shot against her suggestion because it is not comprehensible.If, however, she answers evasively or even changes her content to suit the comprehension questioner, then a rope is pulled over her head and the comprehension questioner(s) suddenly stand there as heroes because it was her idea to formulate it that way.Small tip: If you are asked a comprehension question in the future, it is best to ask back: What exactly do you not understand? I didn't understand the question.*Benno Maggi is co-founder and CEO of Partner & Partner. He created the section "Vom Fach" in the NZZ FOLIO and was in charge of it for years. He presents and decodes words and terms that can be used either for small talk, being important, getting excited, playing Scrabble or simply for fun.