Ever feel awkward when meeting someone new at a networking event?
Here are a variety of questions to help keep the conversation flowing, enabling you get to know the other person and their challenges so that you can be of service to them in some way.
Remember – simply listening carefully and empathetically to their responses is incredibly valuable in itself.
Ice-breakers
If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be?
What is your favourite thing about your career?
What do you enjoy most about your role?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
What gives you career satisfaction?
What do you value most in your colleagues?
What did you want to be when you were little?
What is the best talent you have been given?
What would you like to be better at?
What are your hobbies?
What are two pet work peeves?
If you could share a business lunch with any 3 inspiring figures, living or dead, who would they be?
What’s the furthest location you’ve ever been to with work?
What was your favourite subject in school?
What was the last business book you read?
What’s the most interesting thing you can see out of your office window?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
What was your first ever job?
How many languages do you speak?
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
If you had to describe your work self as an animal, which one would it be? Why?
What job over the course of your career have you had the most fun in?
A bit deeper
Who is your innovation hero? Why?
If you could change something about your skillset, what would it be?
What is your biggest challenge in your job?
What annoys you most at work at the moment?
What are two of the most important lessons you’ve learned in the last year?
If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?
If you could hire someone extra to help you in the business/your team what would their role be?
How would your team members describe you?
How would your boss describe you?
Aside from necessities, what one thing at work could you not go a day without?
Where do you see your career in five years?
If you had a magic wand what one thing would you change about the business?
What is one thing you will never do again at work?
What three things do you think of the most each day at work?
What bit of feedback have you had in your career that’s helped you the most?
What motivates you at work? How motivated are you at the moment?
Who knows you the best at work?
If you had the choice of any organisation to work for next, which would it be?
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?