How to ask questions that open people up

The best questions are small and concrete. Not "tell me about your childhood" but "what did your street smell like in summer?" The smaller the question, the bigger the answer.

Start with the senses. What did it look like, sound like, smell like? These pull people back into the moment instead of asking them to summarise a decade.

Never start with "Describe..." or "Tell me about..." - these sound like homework. Start with What, Who, Where, When.

Avoid superlatives. "What's your biggest regret" is too big to answer honestly. "Was there a year you'd rather forget?" is approachable.

One question at a time. Never stack two questions together. Ask one, wait, listen. The pause after is where the real answer lives.

Use their words back to them. If they mention a person, a place, a feeling - ask about that specific thing next. It shows you're listening and pulls the thread.