How was your weekend?

“How was your weekend?” is a closed-ended question. The answer can be fine, okay, or bad — but that’s the problem with closed-ended questions: they close off possibilities for connection.

Today I want to challenge myself to ask more open-ended questions. For example: What did you do this weekend?

Push past the fine, yes, or no. When someone asks, “How was your weekend?” and you say “fine,” follow it with what activity made it fine. If it was bad, say what made it bad. Choose to open possibilities for connection.

When you think about the conversations that have meant the most to you, what made them feel different from your everyday small talk — and what did someone ask or say that opened the door?