Which of the following steps will elicit a meaningful feedback from a passive person?

Question

A. confront the person.

B. engage in a small talk to fill the uncomfortable empty pauses during a discussion.

C. Set time limits.

D. Ask close-ended questions.

I think the correct answer should be C or D. I would choose D, but i am abit confuse. Will appreciate any help. Thanks

Answer 1

This is just my opinion.

I think A and C are too confrontational and would drive a passive person into silence or even drive them away.

I think D would be patronizing, but if the questions are intelligent, even if closed-end, this might work, but too often this type of question is a dead-end.

I think B is the only one of these four that might work, again, if the small talk is intelligent and not patronizing or frivolous.

Each response requires qualification!!

Answer 2

B will allow the person to continue to not respond. I agree with Writeacher on A and C. I would choose D, if the questions are carefully chosen.

You cannot force a person to talk, if they do not want to. A passive person would be likely to feel more comfortable with closed-ended questions.