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The Global Insight

What are good open-ended questions to ask?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on March 26, 2026

The ability to ask good open-ended questions isn’t just important for building small talk with new people, but also forging stronger connections with those you’re already close with….

  • How was your weekend? What did you do?
  • How was your day? What was the best part?
  • How have you been? What’s been going well for you?

What are some examples of open questions versus closed questions?

Open-ended questions are broad and can be answered in detail (e.g. “What do you think about this product?”), while closed-ended questions are narrow in focus and usually answered with a single word or a pick from limited multiple-choice options (e.g. “Are you satisfied with this product?” → Yes/No/Mostly/Not quite).

What are 3 open-ended questions to ask customers?

30 examples of open-ended questions

  • What are the main reasons you chose to shop today?
  • How did you feel about our customer service?
  • Where did you look before coming to our store?
  • Would you use our [product/service] again?
  • What did you like best about your experience?

What is an example of a closed-ended question?

Close-ended questions are question formats that provoke a simple response from a respondent. They are designed such there isn’t much thought into the single word answer. An example of a close ended question is, “Are you hungry?”.

When to use open questions and closed questions?

They will give you opinions and feelings. They hand control of the conversation to the respondent. This makes open questions useful in the following situations: As a follow-on from closed questions, to develop a conversation and open up someone who is rather quiet.

What are the best questions to ask a store manager?

Important store manager interview questions and how to answer these questions to make the best impression in your job interview. and be well prepared to stand out from the competition. 1. What strategies do you use to motivate staff members? Key steps to successful motivation include:

Which is the opposite of an open question?

An open question can be defined thus: An open question is likely to receive a long answer. Although any question can receive a long answer, open questions deliberately seek longer answers, and are the opposite of closed questions.

What’s the best question to ask a bookstore interviewer?

Here is your opportunity to share with the interviewer if you have a favorite author and why. There is no right or wrong answer; however, be sure to show some excitement and be prepared with a well-researched answer. For example “Hands down, my favorite author is Tony Robbins.