Moving past "So... what do you do?"

A small tweak to a common question.

When meeting someone for the first time I like to skip “so… what do you do?” and ask “when you’re not working, what do you like to do?”

I like this question, because it gives us permission to move past the default conversation around work (which they may or may not be interested in talking about) and opens a door to talk about things they are more naturally interested in.

In my experience, this question has led to more interesting conversations and deeper connections with others.

Also, I like this question because it doesn’t completely shut the door on discussing work. I’ve had people push back and choose to discuss their work because it’s what they are truly interested in and have dedicated their lives to. These conversations around work are also more interesting because you have increased confidence the interest is real.

A small tweak to a common question that can lead to more impactful conversations.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have multiple impactful conversations this week!

- Nickolas