| I (a native english speaker) frequently ask this question at the start of conversations. and I am actually seeking information- it is not an empty ritual. The following are in the context of a workplace conversation; other types of conversations may vary slightly depending on the scenario. Specifically, I am trying to understand how to set the tone for a conversation. If you are feeling stressed, busy, exhausted or frustrated, I may keep banter to a minimum, decide to ask for a meeting later instead of engaging a full conversation now, or even decide that whatever caused me to get your attention in the first place is less important and offer to help you instead of asking for your help. If you are feeling bored, content or happy, I might ask for more direct help than limiting the conversation to simply getting an answer to a question. No matter what the answer is, I'm also trying to use showing an interest in you to set the tone of the conversation to one of camaraderie and collaboration, rather than direction, accusation or competitiveness. There's a ton of nuance involved, no set rules, and the actual amount of time I am expecting to spend on the topic correlates pretty strongly to how well I know you. I'm not asking to be your therapist or your friend, but I am hoping for an honest answer, and if anyone expresses that they are struggling, I will offer to help however I can. |