Buzz
With more people getting vaccinated and COVID-19 cases on the decline, those who have been staying away from social interactions for pandemic-related or personal reasons (or both) might soon find themselves in situations where socializing is expected. This includes initiating and participating in conversations.
Rather than starting with the typical question about how someone has been over the past year or so, Maryn Liles at Parade suggests opening up with some engaging hypothetical questions. Here are some great ideas to try next time you're in a social setting.
The Benefits of Hypothetical Questions in Socializing
Sometimes it's tough to find the right words to say to others, so why not flip the script and ask a hypothetical question instead? Here’s what Liles has to say about them:
Whether lighthearted or deep, hypothetical questions are an excellent way to spark a lively conversation. They foster a space where people can open up and express their thoughts and emotions. These “What if...?” questions allow you to learn more about the person you're talking to, as they encourage creativity and thoughtful responses.
Examples of Engaging Hypothetical Questions
Here are some thought-provoking questions to help you begin:
1. If you could, would you choose to live pain-free for the rest of your life?
2. Would you accept a $70k per week job offer that requires you to sit in complete darkness and do nothing for 20 hours a day?
3. What would a group of people who know you say if I asked them to describe you with five adjectives?
4. What’s one place on Earth you would absolutely refuse to live, and why?
5. If you were a zombie, which famous person’s body would you want to inhabit?
6. How would you react if I told you that you had failed?
7. Would you prefer to lose all memory of yourself or forget everyone else around you?
8. Could you sacrifice 30 years of your own life if it meant a stranger could survive?
9. If offered, would you accept a solution that eliminates your need for sleep?
10. Would you rather always speak your mind, no matter what, or never speak at all?
11. If you had to wear a mask for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
12. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, which one would you choose?
13. If you were stuck in a TV show for a month, which one would you pick? And who would you be if you were a character?
14. Imagine we could choose one color that our eyes would see before we're born. What color would you select?
15. Every day, 12 new items arrive at your home, each starting with a letter of your choice. Which letter would you choose?
16. If you had to choose between living for seventy years filled with happiness or living forever in misery, what would you decide?
17. How would you react if you were asked to complete a task at work that contradicted your personal values?
18. Would you prefer to be the President of the United States or the leader of a Monarchy? If you were a monarch, where would you reign?
19. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
20. Do you think you could convince a colleague to agree with your perspective on the direction of a strategy? If so, how would you do it?
You can find Liles’ complete list of 170 hypothetical questions in her article.
