12 Business Small Talk Questions

Small talk, despite its innocuous name, can be a formidable skill to master. It requires, first and foremost, the ability to make the trivial seem relevant, even important, in a convincing and non-threatening fashion.

Like all such skills, it takes a certain amount of character and charisma, along with experience and practice, to master with aplomb. Here are 12 small talk questions to ask anyone, that will help get you started in mastering this very helpful skill.

#1 - How's your day treating you?
This is a good question to start things off if you find you have nothing else to say. It gets the other person talking about their day, and it usually offers you the same chance to share your own day.

#2 - Do you know any good restaurants?
This question appeals to everyone (not anyone in particular like girls or people in business) because everyone has a favorite restaurant or food joint. Conversations started this way usually lead to a comprehensive list of great places to eat in your city that both you and your partner can learn from.

#3 - What's your favorite holiday?
This is a great way to kick off a conversation and find out if your counterpart is a summer personality or a winter personality.

#4 - What was your favorite class in high school?
Everyone went to high school (mostly) and this question is a great way to try to find common interests between you and your conversation partner.

#5 - Have you read any good books lately?
A good question at least to find out if your partner likes to read, and what, or if they have no affinity for it at all.

#6 - Have you seen any good movies lately?
This question is usually a great follow-up to #5 if their answer was no, or they weren't sure. Everyone likes movies, and most are willing (and eager) to discuss any good ones they've seen lately.

#7 - What is your family like?
This can be a great "small talk" question that bridges the conversation and leads it to a more meaningful and intimate place. But be careful. If the other person hesitates or seems uncomfortable, do not press.

#8 - Where do you work?
This is a great small talk question to kick off a conversation, but be ready, especially in this economy, for the answer to be "no where, anymore".

#9 - What kinds of things do you do in your spare time?
Every one has hobbies. Find out theirs. Do so and you'll be seen as someone with good conversation skills.

#10 - Where did you go on your last vacation?
This is a great question to kick things off with people you know reasonably well, or with people you just met. Everyone loves talking about their vacations.

#11 - What's the most amazing thing you've ever seen?
Though this question is a little amorphous, remember that it is the kind of question that can lead a conversation into nearly infinite places. It's also a fun small talk question to ask.

#12 - What's your middle name?
This is a personal question that isn't really probing or inappropriate, and is an unusual way to kick things off with your conversation partner. The jobs of these questions after all are just to get the two of you talking.