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We’ve all found ourselves stuck in those superawkward situationswhere conversation feels like a chore. Maybe we’re standing next to a coworker in the elevator, waiting in the buffet line with a distant cousin at a family wedding, or making small talk with a friend’s plus-one at a party. It’s not that we don’t want to connect—it’s just that it feels so…forced.

But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Having a few go-to questions up your sleeve can help break the ice and make the interaction less painful. With luck, you may even be able to turn it into a fun conversation, or a genuine connection.

The Importance of Asking the Right Questions

Questionsare useful tools that help us understand people and their priorities.

But, how do you choose the right questions? “Think about what you’d enjoy talking about. What doyouwant people to ask you? Try to use those insights to figure out what the other person might like to talk about,” saysAimee Daramus, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Clarity Clinic, Chicago.

Another helpful strategy is to askopen-ended questions, says Cruz, because they invite others to share their thoughts, experiences, and feelings in more detail.

Think about what you’d enjoy talking about. What doyouwant people to ask you? Try to use those insights to figure out what the other person might like to talk about.—AIMEE DARAMUS, PSYD

Think about what you’d enjoy talking about. What doyouwant people to ask you? Try to use those insights to figure out what the other person might like to talk about.

—AIMEE DARAMUS, PSYD

50 Questions to Ask in Forced Social Interactions

These are some questions that can help you spark conversation and make a forced social situation less awkward.

These are some questions about the event or location that can help break the ice:

10 Personal Questions

These are some personalquestions that can help you get to know the person better:

These are some questions about work that can help you get to know the person professionally:

These are some questions that can help you bond with the person over their family background and upbringing:

10 Hypothetical Questions

These are some lighthearted questions that can help you have a little fun together:

50 Deep Questions to Ask Your Friends for Juicy Conversations

Takeaways

Forced social interactions don’t have to be awkward or exhausting. With the right questions, you can break the ice and have a lively discussion. Remember, the key is to be genuine,listen actively, and have fun. You’ve got this!

50 First Date Questions to Make a Great Impression

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Neirotti RA.The importance of asking questions and doing things for a reason.Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Feb 1;36(1):I-II. doi:10.21470/1678-9741-2021-0950Connor Desai S, Reimers S.Comparing the use of open and closed questions for web-based measures of the continued-influence effect.Behav Res Methods. 2019 Jun;51(3):1426-1440. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1066-z

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Neirotti RA.The importance of asking questions and doing things for a reason.Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Feb 1;36(1):I-II. doi:10.21470/1678-9741-2021-0950Connor Desai S, Reimers S.Comparing the use of open and closed questions for web-based measures of the continued-influence effect.Behav Res Methods. 2019 Jun;51(3):1426-1440. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1066-z

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Neirotti RA.The importance of asking questions and doing things for a reason.Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Feb 1;36(1):I-II. doi:10.21470/1678-9741-2021-0950Connor Desai S, Reimers S.Comparing the use of open and closed questions for web-based measures of the continued-influence effect.Behav Res Methods. 2019 Jun;51(3):1426-1440. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1066-z

Neirotti RA.The importance of asking questions and doing things for a reason.Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Feb 1;36(1):I-II. doi:10.21470/1678-9741-2021-0950

Connor Desai S, Reimers S.Comparing the use of open and closed questions for web-based measures of the continued-influence effect.Behav Res Methods. 2019 Jun;51(3):1426-1440. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1066-z

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