Yes and No are two of the clearest words in the English language. When used as answers, they are precise. They leave no room for doubt, and they are easy to understand.

Each of us knows that one person who gives long-winded answers. You wait for the monologue to complete, but at the end of it you still don’t know what they are really trying to say.

Try asking them questions that can only be answered in yes or no. It forces them to be clear. One of two things will happen. They’ll give you an answer and that’ll be the end of it. Or, they won’t respond, in which case they either don’t know the answer or are unwilling to give one.

Start with an open question, “What do you think of our new employee policy?”. It gives the respondent a free hand, a chance to give a descriptive answer that explains their point. But then follow it up with a closed question, “Should we implement it or not?” That will tell you where they really stand.

You can also use the yes-no technique, if you get lost in the maze of someone’s reply. Start with what you have understood or just start with a simpler version of your original question. But this time, frame it such that it can only be answered with a yes or no. Let the answer steer you to the next yes-no question, and the next, till you understand the full story.

Use this tactic when the answer feels ambiguous or non-committal. If given a chance, people will hide behind stories and descriptions. Framing a question that narrows down the possible answers to just two, flushes them out of their hideouts and safe spots.

The next time you find yourself in a meeting that has gone on and on without a decision or solution, remember the yes-no approach. Let it show you the way when someone speaks a lot but doesn’t say much. It will plot a course through the muddled waters and take you to the other side where the answer lies.