Small Talk Questions for Work
The small talk questions that work best at work are open, easy to answer and about the other person's week, work or interests. Here are 100 of them for coworkers, managers, clients, networking events and video calls. Each question comes with a follow-up line, because the second question is what turns an exchange of pleasantries into a conversation.
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How to choose the right question
You do not need a hundred questions in your head. You need three that suit the person in front of you and the two minutes you have.
Match the question to how well you know them
With a stranger, ask about the shared situation: the event, the session, the queue. With a colleague you see every day, ask about something they mentioned last time. Questions tagged "Goes deeper" are for people you have spoken to before.
Prefer "what" and "how" to yes-or-no questions
"Good weekend?" gets "Yeah, fine." "What did you get up to at the weekend?" gets a sentence you can build on. If you do ask a closed question, have the follow-up ready.
Offer something before you ask again
Three questions in a row feels like an interview. After their answer, add one sentence of your own ("I've never tried that, I'm more of a walker") and then ask the follow-up.
Stay on safe ground
Work projects, food, travel, weekends, hobbies, the event itself and local recommendations are safe almost everywhere. Leave pay, health, politics, religion and appearance alone unless the other person raises them.
Worked example: two minutes before a meeting starts
- You: "Is your day back-to-back, or do you get a breather?"
- Them: "Back-to-back until three, then I'm free."
- You offer something: "Same here until lunch. I've started blocking half an hour after the big ones."
- You follow up: "Which meeting are you dreading least?"
- They laugh, tell you about the one they enjoy, and you have learned what they are working on.
100 small talk questions, each with a follow-up
Filter by who you are talking to and how well you know them. The follow-up line under each question is a suggestion; the best follow-up always picks up a word the other person just used.
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Showing 100 of 100
Small talk questions for coworkers
For the kitchen, the lift, the walk to a meeting room and the two minutes before a call starts.
Any day of the week
How's your week shaping up?
Follow up: Anything you're looking forward to getting off your plate?
CoworkersEasy openerDid you get up to anything fun at the weekend?
Follow up: Is that a regular thing for you, or a one-off?
CoworkersEasy openerWhat are you working on at the moment?
Follow up: What's the tricky part?
CoworkersEasy openerHow was the journey in this morning?
Follow up: Do you usually listen to anything on the way?
CoworkersEasy openerHave you tried the new place round the corner for lunch?
Follow up: What do you normally go for?
CoworkersEasy openerAny plans for the long weekend?
Follow up: Staying local or getting away?
CoworkersEasy openerWhat's keeping you busy outside work these days?
Follow up: How did you get into that?
CoworkersBuilds rapportHow long have you been on this team now?
Follow up: What's changed most since you started?
CoworkersBuilds rapportAre you reading or watching anything good at the moment?
Follow up: What made you pick it?
CoworkersBuilds rapportIs today a coffee day or a tea day?
Follow up: Where do you go for the good stuff around here?
CoworkersEasy opener
In the kitchen or waiting for a meeting
That smells great. What did you bring for lunch?
Follow up: Did you make it yourself?
CoworkersEasy openerIs your day back-to-back, or do you get a breather?
Follow up: Which meeting are you dreading least?
CoworkersEasy openerHow did your presentation go the other day?
Follow up: Did any of the questions surprise you?
CoworkersBuilds rapportDo you have a go-to route for a quick walk near here?
Follow up: How long does the loop take you?
CoworkersEasy openerDid you catch the game last night?
Follow up: Have you always followed them?
CoworkersEasy openerAre you in the office much this week?
Follow up: Which days work best for you?
CoworkersEasy openerI like the plant on your desk. Is there a story behind it?
Follow up: Have you managed to keep it alive long?
CoworkersBuilds rapportHow's the new project treating you?
Follow up: Who else is on it with you?
CoworkersBuilds rapportWhat's the best thing you've eaten this week?
Follow up: Home-cooked or from somewhere I should know about?
CoworkersEasy openerHave you got any time off coming up?
Follow up: What made you choose there?
CoworkersEasy opener
Small talk with your manager and senior leaders
Short, open questions that show interest without asking for anything. Good for the minute before a meeting or a shared lift.
How did you end up in this field?
Follow up: Was there a point where you nearly went a different way?
Managers and leadersBuilds rapportWhat's been the most interesting part of your week?
Follow up: What made it stand out?
Managers and leadersEasy openerWhat were you working on before you joined us?
Follow up: Is there anything you miss about it?
Managers and leadersBuilds rapportI heard the offsite went well. What was the highlight?
Follow up: Is that something we'll see more of?
Managers and leadersEasy openerAre you traveling much this quarter?
Follow up: Do you have a routine that makes the trips easier?
Managers and leadersEasy openerWhat's a book or podcast you've recommended to someone lately?
Follow up: What did you take from it?
Managers and leadersBuilds rapportWhat do you wish more people asked you about?
Follow up: What would you tell them?
Managers and leadersGoes deeperWhat was your very first job?
Follow up: Did anything from it stick with you?
Managers and leadersBuilds rapportHow do you usually switch off after a week like this one?
Follow up: How long have you been doing that?
Managers and leadersBuilds rapportWhat's something the team did recently that you were pleased with?
Follow up: What do you think made it work?
Managers and leadersGoes deeperWhat's the best advice you got early in your career?
Follow up: Did you take it at the time?
Managers and leadersGoes deeperWhich part of the business are you most curious about right now?
Follow up: What would you like to find out?
Managers and leadersGoes deeper
Small talk topics for networking events
Openers for a room full of strangers, then questions that move the conversation past job titles.
Opening lines
What brought you to this event?
Follow up: Have you been to one of these before?
New contactsEasy openerHow do you know the host?
Follow up: Have you worked together long?
New contactsEasy openerWhich session have you liked most so far?
Follow up: What was the main thing you took from it?
New contactsEasy openerWhat does a typical day look like in your role?
Follow up: Which part of it do you enjoy most?
New contactsBuilds rapportIs this your first time at this conference?
Follow up: What made you decide to come this year?
New contactsEasy openerDid you travel far to get here?
Follow up: How are you finding the city?
New contactsEasy openerHave you tried the food yet? Anything worth queuing for?
Follow up: I'll follow your lead. Savory or sweet first?
New contactsEasy openerWhat are you hoping to get out of today?
Follow up: Has anything delivered on that so far?
New contactsBuilds rapportWho's been the best speaker you've seen so far?
Follow up: What did they do differently?
New contactsEasy openerMind if I join you? What have you been talking about?
Follow up: How did you get onto that subject?
New contactsBuilds rapport
Keeping it going
How did you get into your line of work?
Follow up: What's kept you in it?
New contactsBuilds rapportWhat's a project you're excited about right now?
Follow up: What stage is it at?
New contactsBuilds rapportWhat's changing fastest in your industry at the moment?
Follow up: How is your team handling that?
New contactsGoes deeperWhat's the hardest part of your job to explain to people outside it?
Follow up: How do you usually describe it?
New contactsGoes deeperIf you weren't doing this, what would you be doing?
Follow up: What's stopped you so far?
New contactsGoes deeperWhat's a tool or habit that's made your work easier this year?
Follow up: How long did it take to stick?
New contactsBuilds rapportWho else here should I make sure I meet?
Follow up: What's the best way to introduce myself to them?
New contactsBuilds rapportWhat kind of people are you hoping to meet tonight?
Follow up: I may know someone. What would be useful for them to know about you?
New contactsBuilds rapportWhere are you based?
Follow up: What's the scene like there for your industry?
New contactsEasy openerWhat's the best event like this you've ever been to?
Follow up: What made it better than the rest?
New contactsBuilds rapport
Small talk questions for clients and customers
For the first two minutes of a client call or the walk from reception to the meeting room. Keep the focus on their world.
How has your week been so far?
Follow up: Is this a busy season for you, or the normal pace?
ClientsEasy openerWhere are you joining from today?
Follow up: What's it like there at this time of year?
ClientsEasy openerHow long have you been with the company?
Follow up: What first drew you to it?
ClientsBuilds rapportWhat's keeping your team busiest this month?
Follow up: Is that seasonal, or something new?
ClientsBuilds rapportDid you manage to get any time off recently?
Follow up: Did you actually switch off?
ClientsEasy openerHow did the launch go last month?
Follow up: What was the reaction like?
ClientsBuilds rapportWhat are you hearing from your own customers lately?
Follow up: Has that changed what you're prioritizing?
ClientsGoes deeperIs your team mostly in one office or spread out?
Follow up: How do you keep everyone in step?
ClientsEasy openerHave you been to this part of town before?
Follow up: Is there anywhere nearby you'd recommend?
ClientsEasy openerWhat does a good year look like for you?
Follow up: What would have to go right?
ClientsGoes deeperHow did you get started in this industry?
Follow up: What's changed most since then?
ClientsBuilds rapportBefore we dive in, is there anything new on your side since we last spoke?
Follow up: Does that change anything for today's agenda?
ClientsEasy opener
Small talk for video calls and remote teams
Questions that work while people are still joining, and that give remote colleagues a picture of each other's day.
Where are you calling from today?
Follow up: Is that where you're usually based?
CoworkersClientsEasy openerWhat's the view from your window like?
Follow up: Does it ever distract you?
CoworkersEasy openerHow's the weather where you are?
Follow up: Is that typical for this time of year?
CoworkersClientsEasy openerWhat time is it for you? Are we catching you at the start of the day or the end?
Follow up: What's still on your list after this?
CoworkersClientsEasy openerIs that a real bookshelf behind you?
Follow up: What's the best thing on it?
CoworkersBuilds rapportHave you found a routine that works for you at home?
Follow up: What was the change that made the difference?
CoworkersBuilds rapportWhat did you have for lunch today?
Follow up: Do you cook, or is it leftovers like the rest of us?
CoworkersEasy openerWho's the furry coworker I can hear?
Follow up: Do they sit in on all your meetings?
CoworkersEasy openerHow do you mark the end of the work day when you're at home?
Follow up: Does it actually work?
CoworkersBuilds rapportHave you met any of the team in person yet?
Follow up: Who was most different from how they seem on screen?
CoworkersBuilds rapportWhat's your setup like: proper desk or kitchen table?
Follow up: What's the one thing you'd upgrade?
CoworkersEasy openerWhat's the first thing you do when you close the laptop?
Follow up: Has that always been the habit?
CoworkersBuilds rapport
Small talk for your first weeks in a new job
Being new gives you a ready-made reason to ask questions. People generally enjoy explaining how things work.
How long have you worked here?
Follow up: What's kept you here?
CoworkersEasy openerWhat do you wish someone had told you in your first month?
Follow up: Would it have changed anything?
CoworkersBuilds rapportWhere does everyone go for lunch?
Follow up: Would you mind if I came along one day this week?
CoworkersEasy openerWho should I get to know on the team?
Follow up: What's the best thing to ask them about?
CoworkersManagers and leadersBuilds rapportIs there an unwritten rule here I should know about?
Follow up: How did you find out about it?
CoworkersBuilds rapportWhat does your team do? I'm still learning who's who.
Follow up: Who do you work with most closely?
CoworkersEasy openerWhat's the best way to reach you: chat, email or just walking over?
Follow up: Is there a time of day that suits you best?
CoworkersManagers and leadersEasy openerWhat's the story behind the meeting-room names?
Follow up: Who came up with them?
CoworkersEasy openerWhen is the busy period for this team?
Follow up: What does a good week look like in the middle of it?
CoworkersManagers and leadersBuilds rapportIs there a team tradition I should know about?
Follow up: How did it start?
CoworkersBuilds rapport
Small talk for introverts: low-effort questions
Each of these hands the talking to the other person or starts from something you can both see, so you never have to perform.
What's been the highlight of your day so far?
Follow up: What made it better than the rest?
CoworkersNew contactsEasy openerI don't think we've met. I'm new to this group. What team are you on?
Follow up: How long have you been with them?
CoworkersNew contactsEasy openerHow do you two know each other?
Follow up: So who's known the other longer?
New contactsEasy openerWhat are you working on that you're enjoying?
Follow up: What makes it more enjoyable than the usual work?
CoworkersNew contactsBuilds rapportThese events always feel a bit loud to me. Have you found a quiet corner yet?
Follow up: Shall we head over there?
New contactsEasy openerWhat would you recommend to someone new to this event?
Follow up: Is that what you did your first time?
New contactsEasy openerWhat's something you've learned recently?
Follow up: Where did you come across it?
CoworkersNew contactsGoes deeperI haven't heard of your company before. What do you do there?
Follow up: What's a normal week like?
New contactsEasy openerWhat's your favorite way to spend a free afternoon?
Follow up: When did you last manage it?
CoworkersNew contactsBuilds rapportI've got ten minutes before my next session. What's the one thing I should see?
Follow up: What did you like about it?
New contactsEasy openerWhat got you interested in that?
Follow up: Has it turned out how you expected?
CoworkersNew contactsBuilds rapportWhat's a small thing that made this week better?
Follow up: Is that something you'd do again?
CoworkersBuilds rapportAre you more of a morning person or a night person?
Follow up: So when do you get your best work done?
CoworkersNew contactsEasy openerWhat's on your list for the rest of the day?
Follow up: Which bit are you looking forward to?
CoworkersNew contactsEasy opener
Try these questions on an AI conversation partner first
SayNow AI has a small talk scenario where the AI plays the other person in a live voice conversation. Ask a question, handle the answer, try the follow-up, then see feedback on how it went.
Free to download · iOS and Android
How to keep a small talk conversation going, and how to end it
A workplace small talk exchange has four moves. Knowing the last one in advance removes most of the dread, especially if you are an introvert.
Open with the shared situation
Comment on or ask about something both of you can see: the meeting, the weather on the way in, the food at the event. It needs no knowledge of the other person.
Listen for a hook
Every answer contains at least one specific word: a place, a project, a name, a hobby. "We went up to the lake" gives you "the lake". Your follow-up is a question about that word.
Trade, do not interrogate
Alternate a question with a short statement of your own. Aim for the other person to be speaking a little more than half the time.
Leave cleanly
End with a reason and a positive note: "I need to grab a seat before this starts. Good to hear about the lake trip." At a networking event: "I'm going to say hello to a couple more people. It was good to meet you, Sam."
Frequently asked questions
- What are good small talk questions for work?
- Questions that are open, quick to answer and about the other person: "How's your week shaping up?", "What are you working on at the moment?", "Any plans for the long weekend?" Each of these can be answered in a sentence and leads naturally to a follow-up.
- What are safe small talk topics for networking?
- The event itself (sessions, speakers, the venue), how the person got into their field, what they are working on, where they are based and what they hope to get from the day. All of these keep to professional ground while leaving room for something personal if they choose to share it.
- How do introverts make small talk at work?
- By preparing two or three questions in advance, choosing questions that hand the talking to the other person, and deciding on an exit line before the conversation starts. One-to-one conversations at the edge of the room are usually easier than joining a large group. The introvert section above has fourteen low-effort openers.
- What should I avoid asking a coworker?
- Salary, age, health, weight or appearance, relationship or family plans, politics and religion. Also avoid questions that sound like a check on their work, such as "Are you still on that report?", when you mean it as chat.
- How do I end small talk without being awkward?
- Give a short reason and a friendly close: "I'd better get back to it. Enjoy the long weekend." You do not need an elaborate excuse. Most people are relieved when someone else ends the conversation clearly.
- How do I make small talk with my boss or a senior leader?
- Ask about their experience instead of their decisions: how they got into the field, what they are reading, what has interested them this week. Keep it brief and do not use the moment to raise a request. Twelve questions for this situation are listed above.
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