You know the answer! Bit cynical don’t you think?
If you know the answer, why bother unless you are trying to trap someone or test their honesty.
A good place to come from is curiosity. You ask because you want to learn. You ask because you don’t know the answer. Keep your mind blank while waiting for the answer. Stop thinking. Thinking is not necessary. If you are judging what you are hearing while you are hearing… you are not really listening. You are getting ahead. Stay fully aware but just stop thinking. There is time after the person has finished speaking.
Careful that you use open questions mostly if you want a flow of information. How, when, where, what, who and maybe why. Closed questions lead nowhere except to a yes or no. There is no flow.
Try these questions for practice. What can I do to support you more? How can I be a better manager/team leader? What can I do to improve morale? Where do you think we can improve? What do I need to do to be a better parent?
Don’t think while the person is answering. Just be aware of what they are saying. No judgement. No labels.
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