How to ask better questions

If you want people to engage and talk with you, ask better questions. We all know that the answer to “How was your day?” will typically be “fine.” Ask a more open question.

“What was the best part of your day?” Weird? You bet! But no one will answer it with “fine.” Want a simple way to improve conversations? Take “why” out of your vocabulary.

“Why” asks another person to explain themselves to you. Open-ended questions that begin with “what,” for example, are likely to elicit thoughtful answers. Those we work with (and those we love) deserve better questions.

– Barry Goldberg, Vistage International