I've recently asked people I meet to share their stories with me. But instead of the generic "tell me about yourself", I use a specific framework called "7-minute stories" that I learned from
Kevin John Delaney a few years ago.
I put the timer on for seven minutes, saying, "tell me your life story, past, present, future, in seven minutes. I won't interrupt you."
It's remarkable what I learn in those seven minutes when I give space and genuinely listen. In particular, I look for:
- Mindset: What have been the defining moments in this person's life, and how did they respond?
- Values: What truly matters to them? I pay close attention to what they focus on (and conversely, don't).
I try to ask how the person feels after sharing their story. There's usually a mix of gratitude, emotion, and in some cases catharsis. I highly recommend trying the 7-minute story in your next 1:1. You'll never know what you'll learn about folks, whether you've just met them or have worked together for years.