“When it comes time to exchange words with another human being, we find we’re all sort of empty-headed,” Colin says. But it can help if you come armed with the right questions. “A good way to get beyond small talk is to ask open-ended questions that invite people to tell stories, rather than give bland, one-word answers.” Colin adds: “Curiosity has to be at the heart of your heart when you talk to someone. The kind of curiosity that works best is a curiosity for stories.”
