Jeff Hexter, the Chief Networking Officer of The Job Search Center is excited. “I'm only a few chapters in, and there is more on her website:” https://www.scienceofpeople.com/conversation-starters-topics/

 Conversation starters that lead to “big talk”:
What was the highlight of your day?
What personal passion project are you working on?
Have anything exciting coming up in your life?
Don’t (always) use:
What’s your story?
What brings you here?
What do you do?
How are you?

Instead of “how’s work?.” ask “working on any exciting projects recently?”
Instead of “how are you?,” ask “what was the highlight of your day?”
Instead of “what do you do?,” ask “working on any personal passion projects?”
Instead of “how’s the family?,” ask “have any vacations coming up?”
Instead of “where are you from?,” ask “What’s your story?”
Instead of “how’s it going?,” ask “what are you up to this weekend?”
Instead of “been busy?,” ask “what do you do to unwind?”

What works for you to establish connections quickly?