I’ve been on more online dates than I can count, and I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes a conversation great. One of the most important things I’ve discovered is the power of asking open-ended questions.
Let me explain. When I first started online dating, I was guilty of asking a lot of yes or no questions. I’d ask things like “Do you like movies?” or “Have you traveled much?” These questions are fine, but they don’t really give you much to work with. The conversation would often fizzle out quickly, and I’d be left wondering why I couldn’t seem to make a connection.
One day, I decided to change my approach. Instead of asking yes or no questions, I started asking more open-ended questions. Questions like “What’s your favorite movie and why?” or “Tell me about a trip you took that really stood out to you.” These questions require more than a one-word answer, and they give the other person a chance to share something meaningful about themselves.
To my surprise, this approach worked wonders. I found that my matches were much more engaged in the conversation, and we were able to build a rapport much more quickly. By asking open-ended questions, I was able to learn more about my matches and get a better sense of who they were as people.
But the benefits of asking open-ended questions didn’t stop there. I also found that these questions led to more interesting and meaningful conversations. Instead of just talking about surface-level topics, we were able to delve deeper and really get to know each other. I learned about my matches’ passions, their hopes and dreams, and what made them tick. And in turn, they learned about me.
Overall, I’ve found that asking open-ended questions is one of the best things you can do for your online dating conversations. It shows that you’re genuinely interested in getting to know the other person, and it creates an environment where meaningful conversations can thrive. So next time you’re chatting with someone online, try asking a few open-ended questions. You might be surprised at how much of a difference it can make.