When people are asked a question and respond with the most basic answer, they may feel they have met the needs of the questioner. For example, when asked what time it is, the simple answer might be “it’s 3 pm.” But other people might think beyond the question and consider the context, options, and the possibility that their answer might be wrong. “What time is it?” might prompt a response like “it’s 3 pm so you should be able to get to your appointment on time” or “my watch says 3 pm but it’s been running slow lately,” or even “it’s 3 pm here and noon in your time zone.” Neither the basic response nor the contingent approach is good or bad; it depends. Unless you understand why the person is asking their question, you can’t be sure that your answer is really helping them.
Imagine that you are concerned about taking aspirin for your headaches and you ask your doctor if they recommend it. Without giving the doctor more information, you may not be getting the best answer. Are you allergic to aspirin? Does aspirin upset your stomach? What other medications are you taking? Have you tried other ways to address your headaches?
Whether you are asking a question or answering it, make sure there’s enough information for a useful response. You may think you know what the questioner is seeking and a short, literal answer is sufficient. But what is the cost of being wrong?