Learn more about communication with this collection
How to ask open-ended questions
How to avoid awkward silences
How to show interest in others
Prepare Your Conversation Starters
If you often find yourself participating in small talk about topics you have no interest in or have already discussed to exhaustion, the solution may be asking people unexpected, thought-provoking questions that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no.
It’s a good idea to have stock questions so you don’t have to think them up in the moment.
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Conversation Starters: Small Talk Questions About Someone’s Life
- Where did you live before this? What are the biggest differences you see?
- What did you think you were going to be growing up?
- Do you have any hidden talents or surprising hobbies?
- What’s the most unbelievable thing that’s ever happened to you?
- Who’s the m...
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3.14K reads
Random Small Talk Questions
- If you were in charge of picking the eighth wonder of the world, what would you choose?
- What do you wish you had placed in a time capsule 15 years ago?
- What’s the strangest compliment you’ve ever gotten?
- If you could teach a college course on any subject you want,...
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3.19K reads
Small Talk Questions About Travel
- What’s the best “hidden gem” around here?
- If you could fly anywhere for free, where would you go?
- What’s the coolest road trip you’ve ever been on?
- Where’s the last place you traveled? What did you do there?
- Do you prefer action-packed vacations or relaxi...
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3.17K reads
Small Talk Questions About Entertainment
- Are you reading any good books right now? How about shows?
- Are there any apps on your phone that you can’t live without?
- If you could only watch one genre of movies for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- Do you have any podcast suggestions for my commute?
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4.12K reads
Conversation Starters: Small Talk Questions About Food
- If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
- What’s your go-to comfort food?
- Are there any foods that you absolutely would not eat?
- What are the best cheap eats around here? ...
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3.53K reads
Small Talk Questions About Work
- If you weren’t working here, what would you probably be doing right now?
- How did you become a [job title]?
- What’s the craziest thing a boss has ever asked you to do?
- If you were guaranteed to be successful, what job would you want?
- What was your first job...
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4.96K reads
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Conversation starters that'll make awkward small talk so much easier
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- Weather: Major weather events or the immediate weather are good picks.
- Popular and interesting arts and entertainment topics.
- Sports: good way for strangers to connect.
- Daily news: from your city ...
Insert questions into a conversation at the right time
As you listen, questions will come up in your head. But asking questions can interrupt the other person's thinking and derail a conversation.
- Always attend and reflect before you ask a question.
- When you do ask a question to encourage dialogue, ...
Career conversation starters
Networking with the people you already know shouldn't be diffciut.
Be curious about their goals first. Ask, "what's one goal you have for this year?" Most people will ask you the same question in turn. The conversations can lead to brainstorming or introductions.
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