The shape of your question decides the shape of the answer.
Direct answer
Open-ended questions start with words like what, how, why or tell me about, and invite a fuller answer. Use them to start and deepen conversations. Follow up with "What was that like?" or "Say more".
Closed vs open
| Closed | Open |
|---|---|
| Did you have a good weekend? | What was the best part of your weekend? |
| Do you like your job? | What do you enjoy most about your work? |
| Is it busy? | What has been keeping you busy lately? |
Tips
- Ask one question at a time.
- Pause and listen.
- Follow up on what they said.
- Avoid "why" when it may sound accusatory. Try "what led to...".
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's The Art of Small Talk course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Open questions invite stories.
