During planning and briefing, what practice helps comprehension and engagement?

• A. Ask questions of troops and encourage interaction; ensure understanding
• B. Deliver a monologue with no questions
• C. Limit briefing to senior leaders
• D. Skip clarifications to save time

Answer: (A)

Two-way communication during planning and briefing improves comprehension and engagement. When leaders ask questions of troops and invite interaction, it surfaces uncertainties, clarifies tasks, and checks that everyone understands the plan. This approach builds a shared mental model and ownership, so people know what to do and feel responsible for executing it. A monologue without questions leaves gaps, prevents feedback, and reduces engagement. Limiting briefings to senior leaders isolates critical performers from the information they need. Skipping clarifications to save time creates confusion and increases the chance of mistakes. The best practice is to foster dialogue and verify understanding, so briefing becomes an active process rather than a one-way transmission.