Seinfeld’s Small Talk Trick: Ask Questions With Number Answers
Nobody likes small talk, but comedian Jerry Seinfeld has a useful trick to make it better: When you get stuck, ask a question that needs to be answered with a number.
On his hilarious web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, he chats with Amy Schumer and mentions a tip for communicating with people:
Here’s my trick with people – numbers! “Ask them questions, the answer to which will be a number.
There is always an answer. This is Seinfeld’s secret technique for communicating with ordinary people: “How long have you lived here? What time do you start work? When did you do it?
Small talk thrives by asking questions, and open-ended questions work best. If the other person shrugs in response, Seinfeld’s advice might work. The numerical answer can be the starting point for an open-ended question.
Watch the video for more details, and keep this tip in your conversation toolbox if you want to mix up your questions.
Amy Schumer | Comedians in Cars Drink Coffee via Business Insider