Knowing how to start a conversation in a new social or professional setting can be difficult. Small talk can quickly become dull and uncomfortable.

Whether you’re returning to work in the office or trying to make new friends in a new city, it can help to have a few conversation starters prepared. The key to engaging people is to start with open-ended questions.

“The best format for conversation starters is to use an open-ended question that allows the other person to speak openly and freely in a casual and comfortable way,” Amy Arias, M.A., senior lecturer of communications studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, tells Upworthy.

The 10 questions worth trying

Looking for unique conversation starters that will draw people in? Here are 10 questions to get the conversation going:

1. What’s giving you energy right now?

“This question prompts people to move from surface-level small talk to a genuine connection,” leadership strategist and executive coach Stacy McCracken, founder & CEO of Impact and Lead, tells Upworthy. “It invites the other person to share. It’s present, personal, and lets you see what’s fueling them—whether that’s a project, a person, or a long-overdue break. It works because it’s about emotion, not status.”

2. What’s the story behind your name?

“This one usually gets people immediately to connect and share,” public speaking expert LaQuita Cleare, founder & CEO at Clear........

© Upworthy