Actively listen to what they’re saying, talk to them, find something that’s annoyed them. And figure out how they got annoyed? Figure out how they handled it. Are they being reasonable? You want to see the temperament of the person through what they say, and how they react. Most people will tell you who they are if you listen.
Do you speak English or should we do this in Spanish?
What is your name?
What is your date of birth?
What is your current mailing address?
Phone number?
Email?
What’s your annual net income?
What’s your social security number?
Do you prefer paper or electronic bank statements?
A great way to learn about someone’s values is to ask what their pronouns are
“So, you into butt stuff?”
“What are you looking forward to?”
Pretty open ended, it lets them talk about something that brings them joy, and it allows them to go as deep or shallow as they feel comfortable. Maybe they’re truly looking forward to their prick stepson graduating and leaving the house, but instead they can just say how they’re looking forward to fall, with the leaves changing colors and pumpkin spice lattes.
