Blog

Professional development and relationship building go hand in hand. Still, initiating conversations isn’t easy for many people to do. High-pressure situations, such as conferences and other industry events, sometimes make the process of connecting even more awkward. Our Atlas Promotions executives have learned that it helps to ask questions with strategy in mind:

Ask With the Intent to Learn

If you want to grow, you must try to learn from everything you do. Of course, you can also learn from what others do. When you interact with new colleagues, inquire about what they wish they had known in the past. Also ask them if they have any advice for people in situations similar to their own.

Make Open-Ended Inquiries

At Atlas Promotions, we caution against questions that only leave room for one-word responses. You’re better off taking an exploratory approach. Instead of asking if someone enjoyed a presentation, for instance, you might ask what he or she liked and disliked about it.

Wonder Why

When you interact with others, ask about their reasoning for certain choices and about the purposes that drive them forward. Getting insight into your colleagues’ professional growth will help you explore, assess, and plan your own. They’ll also feel flattered by your interest.

Expressing interest in others is a great way to endear them to you. They’ll remember you as an approachable person whom they’d like to get to know better. Visit us on LinkedIn to learn more about making strong connections.