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Hey there!
Are you tired of those awkward silences during conversations?
Do you find yourself struggling to come up with something interesting to say, only to watch the conversation die a slow, painful death?
Well, you’re not alone.
Many of us have been in that situation, desperately trying to keep the conversation afloat but failing miserably.
But fear not!
So today, we are going to unlock the secret to effortless conversations with 14 simple questions that will make you a master conversationalist.
Whether you’re networking, on a first date, or simply trying to make new friends, these questions are guaranteed to keep the conversation flowing smoothly and leave a lasting impression.
So grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and prepare to become a conversation pro!
#1. What Is Your Biggest Fear?
Now, it’s important to preface this one by saying that this could be a bit more intimate than some of the other questions on this list.
You might save this one for when you know someone better or a special occasion like a third date.
That said, learning about someone’s biggest fear can give you insight into who someone is and what they may be looking to avoid as they navigate life.
Sometimes fears are only minor, like a fear of spiders, while someone else might fear not reaching a specific goal in their lifetime or fearing failure.
#2. What’s a Movie or TV Show You’ve Watched Multiple Times and Never Get Tired of?
By knowing what shows they enjoy watching, you can get ideas about their personality, which can then open the door to asking additional questions.
Of course, you could have an entire conversation simply about TV shows too.
#3. What’s Your Favorite Hobby, and How Did You Get Into It?
While work is a significant presence in most people’s lives, most people enjoy some form of activity or hobby when they have free time.
An excellent question to ask when learning more about someone is, “What’s your favorite hobby, and how did you get into it?”.
This allows them to not only talk about something they’re passionate about but dive in a bit more and explain why they’re so passionate about something and the mechanisms behind it.
Watching someone light up when they’re talking about something that genuinely interests them is always exciting.
#4. What’s Your Favorite Food?
Food is a great way to connect with others.
We all enjoy it that bridges culture, age, and beyond.
If you’re getting to know someone, you can always ask them what their favorite food is and see if you can relate to them.
Some people will even ask about more specific food items, such as what someone’s favorite breakfast food is or what their favorite thing is that they might have for lunch.
You might be pleasantly surprised to learn that you share your favorite foods with some of the people around you!
#5. If You Could Have One Superpower, What Would It Be?
I believe that everyone dreams about having superpowers at one point.
Whether it’s because of something that’s happened in our lives or just because we saw an exciting superhero movie once, there’s always an appeal to having the ability to go around and save others or change the world.
You can learn more about someone by asking what their one superpower would be.
Would they like to be able to fly around the world? Do they want to turn invisible at any given moment? Would they like to be able to breathe fire?
Once they’ve identified their favorite power, ask them why they want it. It’s a question that keeps on giving!
#6. Do You Have Any Pets?
Some people are not animal people. They may not be into having any type of pet to care for throughout their lives.
Others, however, are very big on animals and may have some of their own at home.
Although it’s a simple question, ask them more about their feelings about animals and whether or not they have any pets at home.
This is another basic ask that people get passionate about, which is always good when you’re growing closer to someone.
#7. If You Could Have Three Wishes, What Would They Be?
Hypothetical questions may not be the most asked, but they make you think about your answers and frame them in the context of who you are.
Another great question is what three wishes someone would have if they could have three.
Some people might ask for something that helps them get ahead, but others might ask to go back in time and fix something they can’t change.
Heck, some of the answers that you get might be rather funny instead!
#8. What’s Something That You’re Really Terrible at?
Not all questions relate to our favorite things or things we enjoy doing.
Some of the best icebreakers ask us about things that we have to think more about.
Another stellar question to ask someone is, “What’s something that you’re really terrible at?”.
This requires them to think more and can tell us more about things they don’t like, something they want to learn more about or even things that are hilariously funny that we can connect over.
You might even be terrible at the same things they’re awful about.
#9. What’s Something in Your Life That You’re Proud of But Don’t Get to Brag About Much?
Someone who doesn’t get asked about themselves often doesn’t get to speak about their achievements, which can be somewhat disheartening if they’ve done something that deserves recognition.
This is why the above question is always great to ask people you don’t know and people you know pretty well.
This allows them to bring up some of the exciting things they’ve done in their lives and beam about the things they’re proud of doing.
After all, how would you feel if someone cared about what you’ve managed to accomplish over the years?
#10. What’s the Most Obscure Fact You Know?
There’s some information that we all learn as we grow up.
We mostly learn about the same topics in school and may pick up the same information from resources like social media, the TV, or the news.
However, most of us pick up an equal amount of random information throughout our day-to-day lives.
Some of this information sticks with us, ranging from terribly interesting to hilariously absurd.
If you’re trying to see what seems to stick with other people, you can always ask them about the obscure facts they’re still holding onto.
From whale facts to biology facts and beyond, there’s much to learn from others.
#11. What Is the Best Thing That Has Happened to You Today?
People want to converse with others, and they want people around them who genuinely care about them and what they do.
A great question you could ask to build a rapport with someone else is, “What is the best thing that’s happened to you today?”.
This shows the other person that you’re genuinely engaged and want to learn more about them and their lives.
It also helps you stay on top of what’s going on so that you can reference it later when you’re talking to them and they bring it up in conversation.
#12. What’s Your Favorite Season, and What Do You Love Most About It?
This is a great question because everyone has a favorite season.
Knowing which one it is can lead to discussion about activities and what else interests them.
You can even veer off into the traditional weather conversation too if you need to.
#13. What Do You Enjoy Doing In Your Spare Time?
This is a great opener! Asking someone what they like to do for fun can get the conversation flowing easily.
It’s also a great way to find out more about their interests, hobbies, and passions.
#14. What Is Something You Are Proud Of?
This question encourages a person to talk about their accomplishments and let their personality shine.
It can help you get to know them on a deeper level and admire the things they’ve worked hard for.
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Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.