Even if you decide not to give a verbal answer, your mind still pops the answer into your skull. Used properly, questions can give you great power in facilitating excellent communication with your clients as well as everyone else. It is no coincidence that the whole process of presenting information in litigation is done through a controlled succession of question upon question. Statements are discouraged unless they are in response to a question. There is great power in questions.
Questions are the key to taking control of a conversation.
The person asking the question is in control. People don't ask enough questions. They tend to make statements and then stop, allowing the other person to make a statement. When you do that you relinquish control to the other party. This may seem like the polite thing to do, but the purpose of communication has little to do with who has the best manners.