7 questions to help start a conversation with anyone

Imagine: you are sitting in the company of new acquaintances, colleagues, or even the parents of your half. Everyone is silent because they don't know how to start a conversation. The silence becomes unbearable, and you think you can hear the ticking of a clock. This situation can be changed by asking the right questions.

Question 1. How do you know X?

Option. How did you get to this party?

A simple question helps you establish what you have in common with the interlocutor. This is the easiest way to connect and find a topic to discuss.

In the worst case, you can always be amazed at how different roads you came to the same party. And this is a reason to ask new and new questions.

Question 2. What exactly do you mean?

Option. Never heard of this! How it works?

Actually, we don't really like to ask and clarify again. Because then we look stupid and uneducated. It seems that they have overlooked what everyone else has known for a long time.

The tactic here, however, is to feel like a rookie enthusiast. Then your questions will be pleasant for the interlocutor. In addition, you will ask about what everyone around you would like to know about, and this will make the conversation even more enjoyable.

Question 3. Why did you decide to do this?

People love to talk about themselves. Such a question provokes the interlocutor into a story, from which you can isolate individual details so that you can use them later to develop the conversation. You might find out that you studied at the same university or worked in the same industry. And you can continue an interesting conversation for both of you.

Question 4. What do you like most about (…)?

In the same way as in the previous version, you simultaneously establish a connection with a person and provoke him to express his own opinion.

The fun starts when the person disagrees with your preferences. For example, if you said that the speaker was interesting, and your interlocutor almost fell asleep during his lecture. This is a guarantee that there will be no end to the conversation.

Question 5. What's your favorite restaurant?

People like to be experts. If this is your first time in the city and you meet a local, be sure that he will tell you all the secrets of this place. Will advise where to go, where to eat and how to walk.

Comfortable! You will not only get your interlocutor talking, but also get a lot of useful information.

Question 6. Why do you think so?

Usually people are happy to make unfounded statements about a career, city, or hobby. Something like, "Now is not the best time to start a career in this industry."

If you do not allow the interlocutor to get away from this thesis, but ask them to talk about the details and reasons for such an opinion, then, firstly, you will show that you are listening carefully, and secondly, show a genuine interest in the subject of the conversation.

Question 7. What was the most difficult thing along the way?

People love to talk about how they overcame all obstacles and achieved their goal. Such a conversation is bound to be emotional.

This question will work especially well if you need to start a conversation with someone you respect very much: an author, a speaker, a leader in the field. By starting a conversation with this question, you can get not only a lengthy answer, but also a valuable lesson.