200 conversation starters for work, plus 30 things to talk about
Something to say to a coworker, a client or a stranger at a conference, sorted by where you are. All work-safe, with a way to keep the talk going and a polite way out.
The best conversation starters are not clever lines. They are open questions that are easy to answer and easy to follow up, asked at the right moment. So the 200 conversation starters below are sorted by situation: coworkers, a new hire, your manager, a networking event, a client, the minute before a video call, the kitchen, the work party. Each set opens with a line on why it works there. Every question is safe to ask at work: nothing about money, looks, age, dating, politics or religion.
Need something to talk about rather than something to ask? Jump to the 30 things to talk about, each with an opener and a follow-up.
The 10 best conversation starters
If you only keep ten great conversation starters, keep these. Each one works on a coworker, a stranger at a conference or a client, and each one is easy to answer and easy to follow up.
1. What's on your calendar this month that you're excited about?
2. What's taking up most of your brain at work right now?
3. What were you doing before this job, and what made you switch?
4. What's something you've gotten noticeably better at this year?
5. What's something you've recommended to three people lately?
6. What's a project you'd happily talk about for ten minutes?
7. What do you do when you need to properly switch off?
8. What's a problem you'd love more time to work on?
9. What's the most useful advice anyone gave you about this job?
10. Which part of your job would be the most fun to explain to a ten-year-old?
Conversation starters for coworkers
The people you see every week are the easiest to talk to and the easiest to never really know. Three sets: everyday coworkers, someone new, and your manager.
Coworkers you see every day
Mix one work question with one life question. Asking how someone works, not how much, keeps it friendly.
11. What's the part of your job you'd do even if nobody checked?
12. Which project from this year would make your highlight reel?
13. Is there anything on your list this week I could take a look at?
14. Which app or setting do you wish you'd found sooner?
15. Do you plan your day the night before or the morning of?
16. What took you longest to figure out when you started here?
17. Who's the unofficial expert on your team for tricky questions?
18. What usually derails a workday for you, and how do you get it back?
19. What's something you've changed about your setup this year?
20. Which meeting on your calendar do you actually look forward to?
21. What's something about your team the rest of us probably don't know?
22. What's a work habit you're trying to break?
23. What's one change around here you've liked lately?
24. What was the trickiest thing you sorted out this week?
25. What would you fix first if you ran this place for a day?
26. What's the best meeting you've been in this year, and what made it good?
27. Which part of your work would you happily hand to a robot?
28. What's a question you get asked all the time at work?
29. What did you finish this week that you're glad is off your plate?
30. What's your favorite time of day to get deep work done?
A new coworker
In the first weeks, a new person mostly wants to feel less lost. Ask, then offer something: an introduction, a tip, a lunch spot.
31. How's the first week treating you?
32. What tipped you into taking this job?
33. What's surprised you most about working here so far?
34. Has anyone shown you the good lunch spots yet?
35. What's one thing you wish someone had told you on day one?
36. Who have you met so far? I can introduce you to a few people.
37. What kind of work are you hoping to spend most of your time on?
38. Do you like questions over chat, by email or in person?
39. What's a tradition from your last team that you'd like to bring here?
40. Is anything confusing that I could explain in two minutes?
41. What are you most looking forward to learning here?
42. Which acronym have you heard this week that nobody has explained yet?
43. What helps you settle in somewhere new?
44. Is there a tool from your last job that you already miss?
45. What's the first project they've handed you?
Your manager
Good for one-on-ones and the walk back from a meeting. Questions about priorities show you care about the same things they do.
46. What's the one thing you most want our team to get right this quarter?
47. What does a great month look like from where you sit?
48. Which part of my work is most useful to you right now?
49. Is there anything on your plate I could take off it?
50. What's something you learned from a manager you had early on?
51. What's leadership focused on that I might not be seeing?
52. How did you get into managing people?
53. What's one skill you think I should work on next?
54. Is there a decision coming up that you'd like my input on?
55. Do you like hearing about problems early and rough, or later with a fix?
56. Which of our team's recent projects are you proudest of?
57. What would you like more of from me, and what less?
58. What's a project you'd love our team to take on next year?
59. What's something our team does well that you'd like other teams to copy?
60. How do you like updates: a quick message, a doc or a chat?
Want one question a day for the whole team instead? Our question of the day gives everyone the same question each morning, and the morning meeting questions are sized for the first five minutes of a standup.
Networking conversation starters for events and clients
At a conference or a client meeting, the other person is usually as keen to talk as you are. Lead with the event or their work, then let them steer.
Networking events and conferences
The event itself is your easiest opener, because you both chose to be there. Ask about sessions and ideas before job titles.
61. What made you pick this event over the others this season?
62. Which session has been the most useful so far?
63. What's the best idea you've heard today?
64. Is this your first time at this conference?
65. Who are you hoping to meet while you're here?
66. How did you get started in this industry?
67. What's keeping your team busy this season?
68. What does a normal week look like in your role?
69. Which speaker would you go out of your way to hear again?
70. What's one thing you'll try when you get back to work?
71. How do you decide which events are worth the trip?
72. What's a trend in your field you think gets too much hype?
73. What's a trend you think people are sleeping on?
74. Have you found decent coffee anywhere around here?
75. What's the most interesting conversation you've had today?
76. What part of your work surprises people the most?
77. Which new tool has your team adopted that actually stuck?
78. What question did you come here hoping to answer?
79. Who should I make sure to talk to before I leave?
80. What does your company do that most people here wouldn't guess?
81. What should people in our field be reading right now?
82. If you could add one session to this agenda, what would it be about?
83. What are you working on that you'd love to get feedback on?
84. Which talk are you planning to skip, and what will you do instead?
85. What's changed most in your field since you started?
A client
Show interest in their goals and their week, not just the deal. Keep it light before the agenda and save the hard questions for the meeting.
86. How has the quarter been going on your side?
87. What's the most important thing on your team's plate right now?
88. What would make this project a clear win for you?
89. What's changed in your business since we last spoke?
90. What's a project on your side you wish got more attention?
91. What's one thing we could make easier for you?
92. What's a recent win your team is proud of?
93. Is your team all in one office or spread out?
94. What do outsiders tend to get wrong about your industry?
95. What's coming up for your company that you're excited about?
96. Did you have far to travel today?
97. What has the best partner you've worked with done that we should copy?
98. Which part of your work do you enjoy most?
99. Is there anyone on your team we should keep in the loop?
100. How do you and your team recharge after a big launch?
Running the networking yourself? Our speed networking questions come sorted by round, with a timer and a rotation plan for 10, 20 or 40 people.
Quick conversation starters for small moments
Most work conversations are short: the minute before a call fills up, the wait for the kettle, two floors in an elevator. These are built to fit.
Before a video call starts
Two people on a call and a third not here yet. Ask about what you can both see, or about the day so far.
101. What's the view from your window today?
102. Is that a real background or a virtual one?
103. Is this your first call of the day or your fifth?
104. What's in your mug right now?
105. Do you have a pen or notebook you swear by?
106. What's on your list right after this call?
107. Is this a before-lunch or an after-lunch call for you?
108. What's the best thing that's happened since we last talked?
109. What's that on the wall behind you?
110. Did you manage to get outside at all today?
111. What's one tab you have open that has nothing to do with work?
112. Is that your usual spot, or are you working from somewhere new today?
113. Has today gone to plan so far?
114. What's one thing you've already finished this morning?
115. Are you a camera-on-early person or a camera-on-at-the-last-second person?
116. Did you get a proper break between this and your last call?
117. What can you see from your desk that makes you smile?
118. Is your desk tidy right now, or just tidy inside the camera frame?
119. What would you be doing right now if this call got canceled?
120. How's your setup working out? That lighting looks great.
60 seconds in the kitchen or the elevator
Short, light and easy to answer in one breath. The goal is a friendly face next time, not a deep talk.
121. Busy day or a calm one?
122. Brought lunch today, or heading out?
123. Anything good happen this morning?
124. Watching anything good at the moment?
125. Is it always this cold in here?
126. Is that coffee as good as it smells?
127. Which floor are you on? What's your team working on up there?
128. Have you tried the new place around the corner?
129. Doing anything fun after work?
130. Is it just me, or did this week fly by?
131. Are you a morning person, or is the coffee doing the heavy lifting?
132. What's the best thing you've eaten this week?
133. Heading into meetings, or is it a heads-down day?
134. How was the commute this morning?
135. Did you get caught in that rain this morning?
Fun conversation starters for a work party
Parties are where coworkers become people you know. Light questions with a story behind them work best, and nothing that needs a drink to be funny.
At the work party
Start with the party itself (the food, the games, the year), then move to plans and traditions.
136. Which team do you work with most?
137. Which team outing from another job do you still think about?
138. What's been your favorite moment at work this year?
139. Have you tried the food yet? What's worth getting?
140. Any plans for the break?
141. What's a tradition you look forward to every year?
142. What's the best theme you've seen at a work party?
143. Which team do you think had the biggest year?
144. What song gets you on the dance floor, if any song does?
145. What's still on your list for this year?
146. What's a gift you gave that landed better than you expected?
147. How many of these parties have you been to?
148. What's the funniest thing that happened at work this year?
149. Have you played any of the games yet? Which one should I try?
150. Which month of this year went fastest for you?
151. What's a goal you have for next year, work or not?
152. If you planned next year's party, what would you change?
153. Who's someone here you've worked with but never met in person?
154. What's something new you tried this year?
155. What's one thing you want to remember about this year?
Fun ones for any day
Playful questions with no wrong answer. Good for a team lunch, a slow chat channel or a long drive to an offsite.
156. If our team were a band, what would we be called?
157. What's a party trick you can do on demand?
158. What would your job title be if it described what you really do all day?
159. If you could swap jobs with anyone here for a day, whose would you pick?
160. What's your strongest opinion about something that doesn't matter at all?
161. Which fictional sidekick would you hire as your assistant?
162. Which fictional workplace would you most like to work in?
163. What would the documentary about your career so far be called?
164. If you started a podcast, what would it be about?
165. What's a hobby you keep meaning to try?
166. What's a movie you can quote almost word for word?
167. What's a phrase you say so often your team could imitate it?
168. What's a game you'd defend as the best ever made?
169. What's the best day you've ever had at a job?
170. What's a small thing you're surprisingly competitive about?
Good conversation starters for introverts and deeper talks
Not every conversation has to be quick. These are for one-on-one chats, quieter people and the coworkers you already know well.
For introverts
Easy to ask and easy to answer, with a clear topic, so nobody has to perform. Ask one, then let the other person talk.
171. What's something you're really into lately?
172. What's a podcast or newsletter you'd recommend?
173. Do you prefer big events like this or smaller get-togethers?
174. What kind of task makes you lose track of time?
175. Where do you go to recharge during the day?
176. Which book do you end up giving as a gift?
177. What are you tinkering with outside of work?
178. What does a perfect slow morning look like for you?
179. How do you like to get to know new people at work?
180. What's a museum or shop around here that's worth a visit?
181. What's a small project at home you were proud to finish?
182. What's something you know a surprising amount about?
183. Which part of your day do you protect the most?
184. What's a small routine that keeps your week on track?
185. What's a corner of the internet you always end up in?
Deeper ones for people you know
For a coworker you trust, a mentor or a long lunch. Go first with your own answer, and always let a pass be a pass.
186. What's a lesson this job taught you that you didn't expect?
187. What's a work habit you picked up from someone else?
188. If you'd picked a totally different career, what would it be?
189. What makes a workday feel meaningful to you?
190. What are you hoping the next few years look like for you?
191. What's something hard you're glad you did?
192. What's a risk you took at work that worked out?
193. What's a goal you've been quietly working toward?
194. What do you know now that would have saved you a month in your first year?
195. What would you like your next role to include?
196. What's a value you wouldn't trade, even for a great job?
197. What does a job need for you to stay excited about it?
198. Which piece of popular career advice do you disagree with?
199. Who gave you a chance early on that you're still grateful for?
200. What's a question you're still trying to answer about your career?
For a whole team rather than two people, use questions built for a session, with debriefs, in our team building questions, or turn the questions into a game with these get to know you games.
30 things to talk about at work
Good topics to talk about are ones the other person has an opinion on and nobody has to defend. These conversation topics each come with a line to open them and a follow-up for when the first answer is short.
- 1. Books: “Read anything lately you couldn't put down?” Then: “What kept you turning the pages?”
- 2. Shows and movies: “What are you watching that's worth starting?” Then: “How many episodes before it gets good?”
- 3. Podcasts: “Got a podcast you never skip an episode of?” Then: “Which episode should I start with?”
- 4. Music: “What album have you had on repeat?” Then: “Is that what you'd play on a long drive too?”
- 5. Cooking: “Cooked anything you were proud of recently?” Then: “Where did you find the recipe?”
- 6. Places to eat nearby: “Where's the best lunch within a ten-minute walk?” Then: “What do you order there?”
- 7. The weekend: “Do anything fun over the weekend?” Then: “Was it as good as you hoped?”
- 8. Hobbies: “What do you do when you're not working?” Then: “How did you get into it?”
- 9. Learning something new: “Are you learning anything new right now, just for you?” Then: “What's been harder than you expected?”
- 10. Sports: “Do you follow any sports, or play one?” Then: “What's the best game you've ever seen live?”
- 11. Games and puzzles: “Are you into board games, video games or puzzles?” Then: “What's the one you'd teach a beginner?”
- 12. Places you'd love to see: “Where's somewhere you'd love to visit someday?” Then: “What would you do on the first day?”
- 13. Where you live: “What's the best thing about your part of town?” Then: “Where would you take a visitor?”
- 14. The seasons: “Which season suits you best?” Then: “What's the first thing you do when it arrives?”
- 15. The outdoors: “Got a favorite walk or park around here?” Then: “When's the best time to go?”
- 16. Pets: “Are you a dog person, a cat person or neither?” Then: “What's the best animal you've ever met?”
- 17. Current projects: “Which project on your list are you enjoying most?” Then: “What happens when it's done?”
- 18. Career paths: “Was this the career you planned, or did you find it by accident?” Then: “What was the turning point?”
- 19. Tools and tech: “Found an app lately that actually made life easier?” Then: “What did you use before it?”
- 20. Side projects: “Are you building or making anything on the side?” Then: “Who else gets to see it?”
- 21. Recommendations: “What's the best find you've made this year, big or small?” Then: “How did you find it?”
- 22. Childhood favorites: “What was your favorite thing to do as a kid?” Then: “Do you still do any of it?”
- 23. Company events: “Are you going to the next team event?” Then: “What would you like us to do next time?”
- 24. This week's wins: “What went well for you this week?” Then: “What made it work?”
- 25. Local events: “Anything good happening around town soon?” Then: “Have you been before?”
- 26. Creative work: “Do you draw, write, build or make anything?” Then: “What are you working on now?”
- 27. Staying active: “Do you have a favorite way to stay active?” Then: “How do you fit it into a workday?”
- 28. Routines: “What does your morning usually look like?” Then: “Which part would you never skip?”
- 29. Time off: “Got any time off coming up?” Then: “Is it a rest kind of break or a busy one?”
- 30. Good news: “Heard any good news lately, big or small?” Then: “Who did you tell first?”
Still stuck? Tap through our random question generator for a fresh one every time.
How to keep a conversation going
A starter only gets you the first answer. What keeps the conversation alive is a simple loop you can repeat as long as you like.
- Ask an open question. Start with what, how or which, so the answer can't be yes or no. “How was the conference?” gets you a story; “Was the conference good?” gets you a nod.
- Listen for the detail. Every answer hands you something to pick up: a place, a person, a feeling. Notice it instead of planning your next line.
- Add something of your own. Share a short, related answer of your own. One or two sentences: enough to make it a conversation, not enough to take it over.
- Ask again, about their detail. Follow the thread they gave you. “Wait, you taught yourself to code on the train?” beats jumping to a new topic.
What the loop sounds like
- You
- What's on your calendar this month that you're excited about?
- Them
- Honestly, my sister is visiting, and we're doing a pottery class.
- You
- Pottery! I tried a wheel once and made a very sad bowl. Have you done it before?
- Them
- Never. She booked it. I'm a little scared.
- You
- What made her pick pottery?
Notice the last line: it asks about their detail (the sister, the pottery), not a new topic.
8 follow-up questions that fit almost any answer
- How did that start?
- What was the best part?
- What happened next?
- What surprised you about it?
- Would you do it again?
- What would you change about it?
- What's the hardest part?
- What would you tell someone trying it for the first time?
How to end a conversation politely
A good exit names a reason, thanks the person and, if you mean it, sets up the next talk. Lines to borrow:
- I'm going to grab a coffee before the next session. Really good talking with you.
- I promised myself I'd meet three new people today, so I'll keep moving. Glad I met you.
- I don't want to keep you from the rest of the event. Can I find you on LinkedIn?
- I've got a call in five minutes, but I'd love to pick this up at lunch sometime.
- Have you met my colleague? You two should talk about this.
- I'll let you get back to it. Thanks for the tip about that book.
- I'm going to say hi to the host before they get busy. Enjoy the rest of the night.
- Let me send you that article I mentioned. Great chatting.
Topics to skip at work
- Money. Salaries, prices of homes and what someone paid for anything. It puts people on the spot.
- Politics and religion. Unless the person brings it up and clearly wants to talk, leave it.
- Bodies, weight, food choices and health. No comments on how someone looks, what they eat or whether they seem tired.
- Age, dating and family plans. “Are you seeing anyone?” and “Do you want kids?” are not small talk at work.
- Where someone is “really” from. Ask what brought them to the city instead, and let them share what they want.
- Gossip about coworkers. Whatever you say about someone who isn't there, the listener assumes you say about them too.
- Drinking. Plenty of people don't drink. “What are you having?” is fine; “Why aren't you drinking?” is not.
Want the conversation to start itself?
The easiest small talk happens when people have something to do together. A hosted game or a tasting gives every table a shared topic for an hour, so nobody needs a line. Browse our virtual happy hour ideas (no alcohol needed), book hosted games about 2 weeks ahead and kits about 3 weeks ahead, or get a free quote.
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