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48 Questions That'll Make Small Talk Easier
Preparing For Small Talk
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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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? Did you like it?
- What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? How about the worst?
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?
- What’s the last movie that made you cry? Or laugh aloud?
- Who is your favorite person to follow on Instagram?
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?
- Does your family have any “secret” or famous recipes?
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 relaxing on the beach?
- What’s the next trip you have planned?
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 most important role model or mentor you’ve had in your life?
- What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
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, what would it be?
- What would be your ideal superpower?
- If you could have any type of animal for a pet, what would it be?
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The FORD Technique for smooth small talk
The FORD technique is a quick and easy method to avoid awkward silences.
FORD is an acronym that stands for: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams.
Think of a couple questions f...
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Step #5: Exits
Use bookmarks to end well. Examples:
- Future Mentions: “Well, I can’t wait to see you at that ___ coming up—I’ll email you!”
- Inside Jokes: “It was g...
Step #4: Evaluate Your Conversational Performance
After an event ask yourself what went well, what did you learn and who should you follow-up with so you can keep learning and honing your ability.
This can help you identify patterns and remember to follow up on bookmarks, LinkedIn connections and promises.
Step #3: Bookmarking
Use the ‘Bookmarking’ technique to create a deeper connection by adding verbal markers or emphasis to parts of the conversation:
- Future Mentions: saying something that will require follow up on later.
- Inside Jokes: making jokes that refer to something interesting or funny you and the listener was involved in.
- Same Same: exclaiming how crazy it is you have something in common and talking about it.
- You Have to See: saying that you will share something they are interested in with them later.
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Thin-Slicing
Thin-slicing is when we take a mental snapshot of someone...
Self-Evaluation
Choose ONE word from this list of adjectives or pick your own to fill in the blank. When people first meet me, they think I am_____
- Charismatic or boring
- Outgoing or shy
- Kind or judgmental
- Intelligent or weird
- Open or closed
- Powerful or weak
- Engaging or odd
- Professional or casual
Did you pick a positive word? Or a negative word? You have to know where you stand now to move to where you want to be.
Ideal Firsts
The most important thing to do for giving a good impression is to set your intention. Right now pick your ideal first impression word. When people first meet me, I want them to see me as_______.
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