Remember: don’t go slowly with opening. Ask your question instantly.
As in; be like the intense opening scene in a James Bond movie. Ask a personal and direct question e.g what’s on your mind? Or what did you do yesterday? Or; what would you do if..
Don’t go slow. Set the rhythm.
Thought provoking questions to ask easily when traveling or meeting people
- If you could create a new holiday, what would it celebrate and how would people observe it?
- If you could instantly solve one mystery of the universe, what would it be and why?
- What are some cultural differences you’ve noticed while traveling that have made you reflect on your own culture?
- If you could witness any event in history firsthand, what would it be and why?
- What’s a value or principle you live by that you think everyone should adopt?
- What’s a story from your life that you think everyone should hear?
- If you could spend a year in any country, immersing yourself in its culture, where would you go and what would you hope to learn?
- If you could design a perfect city, what features would it have and why?
- If you could interview anyone from the past or present, who would it be and what would be your first question?
- What’s an invention you wish existed and how would it improve your life?
- If you could plant a single idea in everyone’s mind, what idea would you choose and why?
- If you could experience a day in the life of any profession, which one would you choose and what would you hope to learn?
Networking events/industry conventions
- What made you decide to do X?
- What are the biggest challenges when it comes to your industry?
- If you had to do X again, what would you do differently?
- As you gained more experience in X, what became more important and why?
- What would make today/this event successful for you?
- What still surprises you about X?
Connections
- What’s on your mind (from The Coaching Habit)
- How did you get into …?
- What is it like for you to ..? How does it feel? Do you feel refreshed after?
- Do you see your best friends often?
- And family?
- What was an intense experience for you in your life that changed how you look at the world?
Baristas/Wait staff
- What’s your favorite thing on the menu? Why?
- What’s the craziest thing someone tried to order this week?
- Have you ever written somebody’s name wrong on purpose because you didn’t like them?