In my previous article I talked about 3 simple networking questions designed to get the conversation going. Those questions were…

1. What kind of work do you do?
2. How did you get started in _____?
3. How does the recession impact on your business?

Another great question you can ask is “What do you like best about what you do?”

This invites the other person to talk about their business. And it can help get past an awkward pause. For example, imagine this conversation…

Hi, I’m Wayne

Hello Wayne, I’m Sandy

What do you do Sandy?

I’m a wedding planner

Oh, ummm…how interesting…

If I’m not personally interested in weddings, the conversation may not flow as freely as I’d like.

This is where the question “What do you like best about what you do?” comes into its own.

It gives the other person an opportunity to tell me what interests him/her about their business. And it gives me the chance to look for networking opportunities.

For example, the other person may tell you about the silly things their clients do and how they love to fix things. This might remind me of a friend in exactly that situation.

It gives me the chance to set up a referral, and that in turn gives me an excuse to call back.

Would you like to give more referrals to other people in your network?

One way to generate more referrals is to attend business networking events and keep your ears open for opportunities. For example, you might ask questions like these…

1. What kind of work do you do?
2. How did you get started in _____?
3. How does the recession impact on your business?

If you get a glib or one-word answer to that last question, simply follow with “Oh, how come?”

These questions invite the other person to talk. And give you the chance to listen for opportunities.

There is no specific goal here, other than to get the conversation started.

By listening to the other person, more questions will suggest themselves. And you may uncover an opportunity for someone you know.