Use questions to get to know your co-workers and make your job even better

Just about any adult who's had more than one employer will tell you that most jobs can be good, but it's the people you work with that make a job great. That's why getting to know your co-workers will help you experience the best your job has to offer.

Why getting to know co-workers is good for everyone

Becoming acquainted with your co-workers is one of the smartest things you can do for your career. When co-workers get to know each other, it's a win for everyone. As an employee, it puts you in the best position to learn and grow; as a manager, it helps you create an atmosphere of excellence; and for your business, it brings a company together in ways that give it the best chance of success.

Getting to know co-workers is essential for team leaders

If you're the leader of a team, you probably already understand that the better you know the people you manage, the better chance you have of getting the most out of them. Knowing your employees is essential for these critical areas of leadership:

Establishing a work culture
Enhancing creativity
Improving collaboration
Increasing productivity

Getting to know co-workers makes your job more satisfying

Leaders aren't the only ones who benefit from getting to know co-workers better. When you take the time to establish a connection with other team members, the benefits include:

Building trust
Forming friendships
Sharing burdens
Creating opportunities for learning

“When co-workers get to know each other, it's a win for everyone. As an employee, it puts you in the best position to learn and grow; as a manager, it helps you create an atmosphere of excellence; and for your business, it brings a company together in ways that give it the best chance of success.”

Asking and answering questions is a great way of getting to know co-workers

One of the best ways of getting to know your co-workers is by making time for questions and answers to be shared. This can happen both formally, by setting aside time for team building, and casually, by finding moments around your work when you can ask and answer fun or informative questions.

When you begin a dialogue, there are some ways that work better than others.

In-person: Being together is the optimal way to share questions and answers. It allows everyone involved to capture every nuance.
Video calls or meetings: Video calls aren't as good as meeting in a shared space, but they still give you some benefits of face-to-face interaction.
Phone calls: Talking over the phone can convey subtleties such as sarcasm and humor, but you will miss out on seeing facial responses and gestures.
Chat tools: A lot of co-worker communication happens through chat tools, but written answers can be misinterpreted and usually take longer to communicate.
Email: Corresponding through email is the most difficult way to give clear answers, and the lack of a real-time interface leads to misunderstandings.

Sensitivity matters when using questions to get to know your co-workers

Collecting information about your co-workers is great, but sharing information about yourself is equally important. Being asked questions can be intimidating for some people. If that's true for you, it can help to start with simple, safe information about yourself, such as things you would find in your business profile. For example, you can create a profile page on CareerBuilder as a reference to get started. But remember, the purpose of asking questions is not to make you uncomfortable, and you don't have to answer any question that does.

Even if you are very secure with asking and answering questions, there are a few things to keep in mind when getting to know your co-workers. It's better to be too careful than insensitive with your questions. As a rule, the less you know someone, the more cautious you should be; you never know what a sensitive subject might be. Avoid being aggressive, don't look for ways to take offense, and above all, respect your co-workers by actively listening to their answers.

Questions you can use to get to know your co-workers

Here are five categories of questions you can use to get to know the people you work with.

Career and business questions

What was the first job you ever had?
What is the most horrible job you've ever had?
What is the best job you've ever had?
In all the work you've done, what are you most proud of?
What was your biggest career challenge?
What made you want to pursue your career here?
What is your greatest work-related talent?
What is your favorite part of your day-to-day job?
Which parts of your job do you dislike the most?
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
Have mentors ever made an impact on your career?
Which job or jobs have taught you the hardest lessons?

Personal and family questions

Where were you born?
Where did you live as a child?
What are some of your earliest memories?
How big was your family?
How many languages can you speak?
Where did you go to college?
What kind of pets do you prefer?
What is your idea of a great vacation?
What is your favorite kind of food?
What is your favorite way to relax?
Do you have a favorite drink?
Who are your real-life personal heroes?

Hobby and sports questions

Which athletic gifts do you possess?
Which sports have you played?
Have you ever competed at a high level in a sport?
Are there professional sports you like to follow?
What is the greatest sport ever invented?
Do you enjoy board, card, or computer games?
Do you enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, hunting, or fishing?
Which hobbies do you like?
Do you like to post on social media apps?
Do you have any significant collections?
Do you like to keep up with technology?
Are you involved in any creative hobbies?

Music and entertainment questions

Do you play a musical instrument?
What are your favorite styles of music?
Who are your favorite musical artists?
Have you ever been to an unforgettable concert?
What kind of books do you like to read?
Do you have a favorite author?
Do you subscribe to a favorite podcast?
What is your favorite film or movie genre?
Do you have a favorite actor or director?
Which television shows did you watch growing up?
What is your favorite show of all time?
Do you re-watch your favorite films or reread your favorite books?

Hypothetical and fun questions

Which place in the world would you most like to visit?
Have you ever seen something you couldn't explain, such as a ghost or UFO?
If you could go back in time and do something over, what would it be?
Is there a crazy stunt or accomplishment you are proud of?
Have you ever met or spent time with someone famous?
What is the most dangerous thing you've ever done?
What is a superpower you would most like to have?
Have you ever lost an embarrassing bet?
If you could live at any time and place in history, what and where would it be?
Have you ever encountered dangerous wildlife?
What would you do with a billion dollars?
What kind of fads or trends do you regret being involved with?

Asking questions to get to know your co-workers better will be time well spent. Don't be surprised when it leads to more satisfaction and success at work.