It is often customary whenever we meet another person, one of the first questions we ask is “What do you do?” I know this is a safe question because it keeps people at a distance while you can gauge any forecasts that may predict their interests, capabilities, social titles, values, education, or whatever else you think you may learn from their occupation. While I can appreciate a nice ice-breaker to make chit chatting less forced, I really have no interest in learning about what people do. Or, to make it clear, what they do to make money. There are so many different ways people support themselves that have nothing to do with who they are because earning a living is commonly determined by opportunity rather than preference (unfortunately).
So the idea is this: instead of asking people about their job, I am going to start asking “What do you like?” I know this is a simplistic yet loaded question, but that’s what makes it experimental because you cannot predict how this will register to someone else or how they may respond. Their minds may jump to food, hobbies, entertainment, people, places, or the “What do you mean what do I like?” pause of suspicion. They may even talk about their job. Whatever the answer, the whole point is to make communication more genuine and personable while avoiding the habit to assume.
© Mayme Snow
