Have Better Conversations with This Question

Have you ever tried to have a conversation, and it just falls flat? It’s easy to blame the other person, but maybe you’re asking the wrong questions.

Here’s the best question to use for better conversations:

What inspired you to do that?

Rather than just saying “Oh that's cool,” help them expand their answer with a deeper question. When someone shares about their hobbies, courses, or job, ask them what inspired them to get into that.

They’ll usually give you a one-word answer when you ask what they do, and then you can swoop in and be curious how they became involved in that. They’ll tell you a story of how they got into that line of work or developed those passions.

Ask your teachers if they always knew they wanted to teach, and see what they say. You might be surprised by their answers.

People love talking about themselves. If you know how to get other people talking about themselves, you’ll even be more well-liked.

For more awesome questions to try in your next conversation, check out this book It’s the Awkwardness for Me: 12 Ways to Make Being a Teen Less Awkward.