The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting

The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting
The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting

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While listening to my

While listening to my favorite podcasts, I’ve noticed a two-word phrase that hosts often use with their guests to cut past the surface-level chitchat and into the heart of a story:
“I’m curious.”

Curiosity is pure. If

Curiosity is pure. If you believe every person has a great story, you will find that you are right.

Sometimes a simple question is all it takes to reveal it.

Usually, the phrase is

Usually, the phrase is carefully placed before a good, sometimes tough question. On NPR’s How I Built This, which dives into the stories behind the world’s best-known companies, host Guy Raz uses it often.

He used it when he talked to Lyft’s John Zimmer: “Uber is a good product. Lyft is a good product. They do things really well. You guys do things really well. I’m curious how that competition has actually made Lyft better.”

What “I’m curious” does

What “I’m curious” does is set the other person up for success. You’re not being interrogative, as there’s no right or wrong answer.

There’s no judgment, no ulterior motive. You simply want to learn.

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