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Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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We’ve all been in the situation of meeting someone and having to find something to talk about. Many people — especially Americans — break the silence with a standard question: “So, what do you do?” But talking about work, even at networking events, isn’t always the best way to build rapport.

o Instead, ask people about their hobbies, the charities they support, where they grew up, or even who their favorite superhero is.

o If steering away from work doesn’t feel comfortable, you can ask a question like “What excites you right now?” or “What’s the best thing that happened to you this year?” These kinds of queries invite a range of answers and let the other person talk about work, their kids, their new boat — whatever they want.

o Asking open-ended questions can lead to a more interesting conversation, and you might even make a new friend.

Adapted from “8 Questions to Ask Someone Other Than ‘What Do You Do?’” by David Burkus

To check out that HBR article and join the discussion, please click here.

Here’s a direct link to dozens of other Management Tips.