How to Ask for Clarification Politely

Have you ever experienced a meeting where somebody is explaining something, but for the life of you, you can't even begin to understand their point of view?

You’d like to ask for clarification, but you’re not sure how in a polite way.

Perhaps you find yourself asking for clarification a few times and it feels awkward when you still don’t agree with the person. You need more information to fully understand what they mean, but the other person is getting irritated with all of your questions?

Let’s explore the three tenants of how to ask for clarification politely.

1. Check your tone of voice.

We can say the exact same thing in two entirely different tones of voice. Each intonation will convey very different messages. For instance, we can say, “I’m not sure that I agree with that,” in an aggressive tone, or in an inquisitive tone, and this will impact how the message is received by our listener. Are you aware of how your tone of voice conveys different messages?

Monitoring your tone of voice is a key element of learning to ask for clarification politely. It can help ensure that whatever you’re saying does not come across in a way that is not intended.

2. Be non-accusatory.

If you are wanting to ask for clarification politely, blaming the other person is definitely not the way to go.

Speak from your own perspective, using sentences that start with, “I” rather than “you.” For instance, instead of saying, “you’re not explaining this very well,” you could say something like, “I’m not fully understanding what you're explaining.” When people feel blamed, they become defensive. By speaking solely in terms of your own perspective, your listener will be more open to further discussion.

3. Be inquisitive.

To obtain clarification, you have to truly want to understand the other person’s point of view. One great way to do this is to ask a lot of open-ended questions. Closed questions always lead to a yes or no answer, and hence, gather limited information. Open-ended questions leave space to fully explore another person’s perspective.

Here are a few examples of the types of sentences that you could use to ask for clarification politely at work:

• “Am I right in thinking that what you’re meaning by that is…”
• “If I’m understanding correctly, you think that the most important factor in this situation is… Is that correct?”
• “I think I need more information because I’m not fully understanding the part that you were saying about…”
• “So I think I understand that you believe X would be the best solution? Could you explain a bit about your concerns regarding the other solution?”
• “I don’t think I fully understand what you were saying about… Could you tell me a bit more?”
• “I think it might help me if I could understand a few more details about that part of the project.”
• “Could you give me a concrete example to help me understand how that might affect our current situation?”

These types of clarification questions will help ensure that everyone has the same understanding of the situation.

To ask for clarification politely, it's essential to use open-ended clarification questions stated in a neutral and inquisitive tone of voice. In doing so, you'll be perceived as non-accusatory and therefore, not threatening. People will understand that you're simply seeking to gain the clarification that you need to better understand the situation at hand and will be more willing to engage with you.

Ultimately, using this approach to obtain clarification will not only help to mediate opinions and get individuals on the same page faster. It will also help prevent resentment and rifts in business relationships.

Lindsay Lapaquette works with organizations who want to invest in elevating team performance by refining leadership communication skills. Lindsay's background as a former Speech-Language Pathologist, specialized in working with clients with social interaction difficulties, brings a unique perspective that helps leaders and organizations get to the root of complex communication issues so they can save time, money and sanity.

?To learn more about Lindsay’s coaching, speaking and consulting, visit lindsaylapaquette.com

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