How to turn "small talk" into Big Talk
A deep question asks about someone’s values, beliefs, judgments, or experiences—rather than just facts. Don’t ask “Where do you work?” Instead, draw out feelings or experiences: “What’s the best part of your job?” (One 2021 study found a simple approach to generating deep questions: Before speaking, imagine you’re talking to a close friend. What qu
... See moreCharles Duhigg • Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection
From there, I have a few go-to questions that I have found create reliably engaging discourse:
• What's your connection to [insert current place or event]?
• What are you most excited about currently?
• What's lighting you up outside of work?
• What’s your favorite book you’ve read recently?
Note: Always avoid "What do you do?" as a question. It's
... See moreAsk about the conversations they’ve had recently. Ask what they’ve learned about themselves or about the world this year as a result of their experiences. Get curious. Go beyond the surface.