50 Speed Meeting Topics and Questions

Last updated: October 17, 2024

Looking to make meaningful connections in a short amount of time?

Speed meeting might be just what you need.

This fast-paced, structured networking activity is perfect for:

• Breaking the ice at conferences or workshops
• Helping new employees get to know each other
• Fostering connections at social events or meetups
• Kickstarting conversations in team-building sessions

In this article, you’ll discover:

• What speed meeting is and how it works
• 50 thought-provoking questions across 5 categories
• Tips for making the most of your speed meeting experience

Let’s dive in and explore how you can turn quick chats into lasting connections!

Why you should listen to me: My name is Nick Gray, and I’m the best–selling author of the party handbook The 2-Hour Cocktail Party. I’ve hosted hundreds of parties all over the world, even speed meetings. After making it a habit, I can easily host a gathering and make new friends with no sweat. I’ve been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and New York Magazine once called me a host of “culturally significant” parties.

What is a Speed Meeting?

Speed meeting is a social activity where participants have brief, focused conversations with multiple people in a limited time.

It’s designed to help you quickly connect with others through interesting questions and short discussions.

The goal? To find potential new contacts, friends, or collaborators with shared interests or complementary skills.

Read this list of speed friending questions if you’re looking to expand your circle or network.

50 Speed Meeting Questions

This is just a list of questions. For the full facilitation guide, see Speed Icebreakers: How to Do Them.

Here’s a list of 50 engaging questions across five categories to spark interesting conversations:

Work and Career

1. What’s the most interesting project you’re working on right now?
2. If you could switch careers tomorrow, what would you do?
3. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
4. How do you stay motivated at work?
5. What’s your dream job, and why?
6. What’s the biggest challenge in your industry today?
7. If you could learn any new skill for your job, what would it be?
8. What’s your favorite way to de-stress after a long workday?
9. How do you see your industry changing in the next 5 years?
10. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from a colleague?

Personal Life

11. What’s your idea of a perfect weekend?
12. If you could master any hobby instantly, what would you choose?
13. What’s the last book that really impacted you?
14. How do you like to spend your free time?
15. What’s your favorite way to practice self-care?
16. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would they be?
17. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
18. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
19. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
20. What’s something you’re really passionate about outside of work?

Growing Up

21. What did you want to be when you grew up?
22. Who was your biggest role model as a child?
23. What’s the best piece of advice your parents gave you?
24. What was your favorite subject in school?
25. If you could relive one day from your childhood, which would it be?
26. What’s the most valuable life lesson you learned growing up?
27. What was your first job, and what did it teach you?
28. How has your hometown shaped who you are today?
29. What’s a family tradition you’d like to pass on?
30. What’s the most embarrassing thing you remember from your teenage years?

Favorites

31. What’s your go-to comfort food?
32. If you could only listen to one music artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?
33. What’s your favorite movie of all time and why?
34. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
35. What’s your favorite season, and what do you love about it?
36. If you could be an expert in one subject, what would it be?
37. What’s your favorite way to spend time in nature?
38. If you could own any animal as a pet, what would you choose?
39. What’s your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?
40. If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?

Travel

41. What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever visited?
42. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?
43. What’s your favorite travel memory?
44. If you could learn any language fluently, which would you choose?
45. What’s the best local cuisine you’ve tried while traveling?
46. If you could live in another country for a year, where would it be?
47. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done while traveling?
48. If you could design your own dream vacation, what would it include?
49. What’s one place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
50. If you could only travel by one mode of transportation for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Making the Most of Speed Meeting

Prepare a brief self-introduction. Keep it concise and memorable.

Practice active listening. Show genuine interest in others’ responses.

Bring business cards or a digital contact-sharing method. Exchange information efficiently.

Focus on quality over quantity. Aim for meaningful connections, not just numbers.

Be mindful of time. Respect the structure of the event.

Follow up promptly. Send a personalized message within 24-48 hours.

Conclusion

Speed meeting is an excellent way to expand your network. It can potentially form valuable connections.

These 50 questions across various categories equip you for engaging conversations.

They help you discover common ground with others.

The key to successful speed meeting is being authentic, curious, and open to new connections.

Key takeaways:

• Speed meeting involves short, focused conversations with multiple people
• Use thought-provoking questions to spark meaningful discussions
• Be open, genuine, and respectful in your interactions
• Approach the experience with a positive attitude and willingness to learn
• These questions can be adapted for various professional and social situations

Ready to give speed meeting a try? You’re all set to turn quick chats into lasting connections.

In my book, The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, I provide helpful guidance on how to host a great party for any event. I wrote this book to support anyone interested in meeting new people.

When is your party? Send me an email and I will give you some bonus tips, including a pre-party checklist that you can print out. Plus, I’ll answer any question you have, free of charge. I love talking about parties, and I’m on a mission to help 500 people host their first party.