I’ve been noticing this a lot lately. Some one will ask a question that assumes the answer. In which case, why ask the question? And are you really listening when they give an answer or are you hearing what you expect?
For example, I heard an account manager ask a client, “do you have concerns with usage or budget?” Well, after hearing that, I’d have concerns about both. How about, “What are your concerns?” instead.
More often than not leading questions happen when the person is uncomfortable with the question they are about to ask and so they keep talking after they ask the question. See above.
My advice is twofold: 1) If you are afraid of the answer, get over it before you ask the question. 2) Stop talking. Say as little as possible and just listen. Otherwise you are going to get the answer that is making you afraid to ask the question.
Also, it’s never as bad as you think, until you make it so. Often when it seems as bad as you think, if just truly listen, you usually uncover that there is a very solvable problem underneath.