We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Why Trust Us? The best questions to ask to get to know someone act as a great starting point for any conversation.
Asking thoughtful questions can lay the foundation for a deep connection. Meet the Experts: Monica Cwynar, L. Below, find some thought-provoking questions to get the conversation started. Keep reading for discussion prompts, broken down by category. Asking someone about things they enjoy—or despise—is a way to get personal without being intrusive, Pernell says.
For instance, even asking someone about their favorite sandwich asks for a memory recall and opens doors of conversation. Try something like:. So go for it with these deeper questions, with a few caveats, says Alyson Nerenberg, M.
One way to keep a conversation flowing is to ask questions about a topic likely to inspire opinionated—controversial—answers. For some, questions about family can be emotionally charged or otherwise heavy. For instance, you may ask:. Plus, the answers to these fundamental questions are unlikely to come up on their own through the course of superficial conversation.
Depending on the setting, work-related questions can be both the most appropriate icebreakers and also ways to spark lively conversation. Everyone wants to feel like they are seen and listened to and that their answers matter.
