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Conversation Starter

The first step in getting to know anyone is conversation. Sometimes though, conversation doesn’t come so naturally. It’s no fun to find yourself in a situation with nothing to say for whatever reason. I keep myself armed with a question or two that I can pull out on those occasions.

A great “getting-to-know-someone” question has three critical traits.

It’s open-ended to get the other person talking.
The responder can choose what to reveal.
No implied judgment or right answer is hidden within it.

The question I use most often when I want to spark conversation is this one.

So, what do you do when you’re not doing this?

I’ve had fabulous conversations with CEOs, cab drivers, hair dressers, and once with another person stuck in a elevator. I’ve always parted those conversations feeling like I’ve made a friend.

Got any conversation starters that you use?

–ME “Liz” Strauss