Does this answer your question?

Please make it a habit to always ask ‘Does this answer your question?’ after you have responded to somebody’s question. Let me explain to you why.

It avoids miscommunication – There is always a good chance that the person asking you a question doesn’t express herself clearly or that you somehow misunderstand the question. So, if you seek feedback if you have answered the question, then you can sort out any misunderstanding straight away. The person who asked the question will feel that you really care.

It shows that you have confidence – Seeking feedback that the question is answered 100% shows that you are not ‘running away’ from the answer. It is like you know what you are talking about and are willing to be questioned and answer completely. This is particularly important when you are dealing with a group of people e.g. answering questions after a speech or presentation. Imagine yourself answering a question from a group member, unintentionally, incompletely and then move on and ask if anybody else has a question. If you do that, everybody in the room will think that you don’t care too much or maybe you don’t know the answer yourself. That will impact your reputation. In reverse, if you ask the magic question ‘Does this answer your question?’ it shows you are willing and able to answer in full. That shows confidence.