When investment bankers, stock analysts or portfolio managers want to know what's happening inside a corporation, they have direct access to the corporate treasurer or the investor relations (IR) officer. When you are curious about an issue affecting your investment, you too can direct questions to the firm's IR officer.
Don't ask for information that is readily available elsewhere. Have before you a well-prepared written list of specific questions.
Before talking with the company representative, however, look at the annual report. It's an important document. In addition to giving you the financial background, most good reports reveal the type of thinking going on in the company. They also reveal the differences between a company that just happens to be in the right place at the right time and a company that is making its own breaks. Look for a specific description of future plans-not just "We hope 1990 will be a good year."
There is no law that says that public companies must answer all your questions. In fact, there's much that they can't tell you. They can't divulge anything that is not already in the public domain. They can't answer questions about mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures. And most companies, although they are allowed to estimate earnings, won't do so.
An IR officer can only tell you what the company's plans are or give you the financial figures that have already been released. He can also discuss news announcements interpretively-for example, the possible impact on the bottom line for Union Carbide after the Bhopal tragedy.
What exactly are clarifying questions?
Clarifying questions are those asked by the listener to the speaker in order to eliminate or prevent any misunderstanding, confusion, or ambiguity. By asking this type of question after receiving the message, the listener ensures that they fully comprehended the message and obtain critical additional information.
The speaker also benefits from knowing that their audience is paying attention and is genuinely interested in what they have to say.
Clarifying questions usually does not necessitate new information from the speaker. They are instead used by the listener to gain a more accurate understanding of what the speaker wishes to convey.
They can be used in any situation where someone is attempting to communicate with an audience, such as in interviews, presentations, and discussions.
Clarifying questions:
- What do you mean by the best possible price?
- How can I make sure of that?
- What do you consider to be new technology?
Bottom line
The tone of your voice can make the same sentence sound entirely different to someone else. You should express your gratitude to the person who provided the clarification by thanking them for taking the time to explain the concept further.
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