In Part Two of Clarifying Questions, which question asks what you hoping to accomplish by working together?

• A. What would it mean for you to solve this problem?
• B. What are you hoping to accomplish by us possibly working together?
• C. Can you walk me through the steps that led you to this conclusion?
• D. What would you do if this problem is solved?

Answer: (B)

Clarifying questions about why you want to collaborate test whether you’re probing the other person’s intended outcome from working together. This kind of question moves the conversation from simply solving a problem to understanding the shared purpose and expected results of a partnership. It shows you’re aligning on what success looks like when you join forces, which helps you both set meaningful goals and expectations.

The best choice is the one that asks what you’re hoping to accomplish by us possibly working together, because it directly seeks the joint objective and motivation behind collaboration. It foregrounds the why of partnering and clarifies the desired outcome of the relationship, rather than focusing on solving the problem alone, describing steps, or imagining post-solution actions.

The other options don’t fit as well because they push the conversation toward a solitary outcome (the meaning of solving the problem for the other person), the reasoning process that led to a conclusion, or actions after a solution is in place, rather than explicitly uncovering the shared goal of working together.