Years ago New York Times ran an article, “To Fall in Love with Anyone Do This” by Mandy Catron where she implemented a study by psychologist Arthur Aron.  His study suggests that if you sit down and ask someone  and then stare at them for four minutes, you have a good chance of falling in love.
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Following up on my tip around Emotional Intimacy in the Workplace, I would suggest of these 36 questions, 14 are work appropriate.  Answers to these questions are social super glue.  And anyone can ask or answer them.
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Of course, I’m not looking for your team to fall in love, however these questions create a deeper connection than the usual work questions:

• How are you?
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• What did you do this weekend?
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• Do you have the report? 

Consider opening your next meeting with one of these under the context of an “icebreaker,” a round robin at the Friday Afternoon Club, at your next one-on-one with a team member or over lunch with colleagues.  By the way these also make great interview questions:

• Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest?
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• Would you like to be famous? If so, in what way?
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• What would constitute a “perfect” day for you?
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• When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?
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• If you were able to live to the age of 90 and retain either the mind or body of a 30-year-old for the last 60 years of your life, which would you want?
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• Name three things you and your co-worker appear to have in common.
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• For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
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• If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be?
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• If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?
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• Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time? Why haven’t you done it?
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• What is the greatest accomplishment of your life?
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• What do you value most in a friendship?
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• What is your most treasured memory?
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• Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

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Bonus: If you could have the superpower of being invisible or fly, which would you choose and why? (Check out Act 1 of This American Life on Superpowers)

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Here's to getting to know your team and colleagues in a more meaningful way!