First: Follow this link to get your free 35 Solution Focused Questions worksheet! https://thefocusedmindset.kit.com/620a7a8b4e

In this episode of The Focused Mindset Podcast, Cher dives into one of the most important skills in communication: how to build rapport from the very beginning of a conversation.

Using the solution-focused approach, Cher shares how small shifts in the way we ask questions can dramatically improve connection, trust, and impact. She also reflects on a powerful insight: sometimes even well-intended positive questions can feel invalidating if we are not fully meeting people where they are.

This episode will help you balance hope and authenticity, so your conversations feel real, not forced.

✨ What You'll Learn

• Why the way a conversation starts often determines how it ends
• How certain "positive" questions can accidentally feel invalidating
• The difference between solution-focused vs. overly positive communication
• How to stay curious and present instead of anxious or self-focused
• Simple, powerful questions that instantly build connection 🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Episode
  • Free 35 Solution Focused Questions resourse worksheet https://thefocusedmindset.kit.com/620a7a8b4e
  • Solution Focused Possibilities Podcast https://sfpossibilities.org/
  • Vin Giang – Communication & Conversation Skills https://www.youtube.com/@askvinh

6 Powerful Questions to Build Rapport

Use these in conversations to create connection and trust:

1. "Tell me more."
2. "That's an interesting way to look at it."
3. "What do you love most about that?"
4. "I see where you're coming from."
5. "That must have been a big moment for you."
6. "What else?"

💡 A Better Way to Start Conversations

Instead of jumping straight to:

• "What's been better?"

Try:

• "What have you been thinking about lately?"
• "Have you had any new thoughts?"
• "What's going in the right direction?"

These open the door without dismissing real struggles.

⚖️ Real Talk: Avoiding Toxic Positivity

Even solution-focused questions can feel too positive or invalidating if we skip over someone's real experience.

The goal is not to avoid problems. The goal is to walk through them with someone so they can see possibilities.

🔗 Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Solution Focused Possibilities Podcast https://sfpossibilities.org/
• Vin Giang – Communication & Conversation Skills https://www.youtube.com/@askvinh

❤️ Final Message

In a world moving quickly toward digital connection, this episode is a reminder to slow down and prioritize real human connection.

When we lead with curiosity instead of control, conversations become meaningful, hopeful, and transformational.