20 Questions

Funny Questions to Ask CEO

Break the ice with your CEO using these humorous questions that show personality, create memorable interactions, and reveal the lighter side of leadership.

1

If you could have any superpower for a day in the office, what would it be?

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Why this works

Reveals what they find most challenging or wish they could change about their role in a lighthearted way.

2

What's the funniest thing that's ever happened in a board meeting?

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Why this works

Opens up about unexpected moments and shows they can laugh at themselves and the serious nature of leadership.

3

If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be?

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Why this works

Reveals what other roles they're curious about and shows their understanding (or lack thereof) of different departments.

4

What's the most ridiculous business trend you've ever encountered?

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Why this works

Shows their business acumen while adding humor about industry fads and their perspective on what actually matters.

5

If our company was a movie, what genre would it be?

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Why this works

Reveals how they view the company culture and whether they see it as a comedy, drama, action film, or something else.

6

What's your go-to karaoke song?

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Why this works

Shows their fun side and reveals something personal that humanizes them beyond their CEO role.

7

If you could uninvent one piece of technology, what would it be?

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Why this works

Opens up about pet peeves and what aspects of modern work life they find frustrating or unnecessary.

8

What's the worst business advice you've ever received?

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Why this works

Reveals their business wisdom through the lens of what NOT to do, making it both funny and educational.

9

If you had to describe your leadership style as a food, what would it be?

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Why this works

Encourages creative self-reflection and reveals how they think about their approach in a non-traditional way.

10

What's your secret talent that has nothing to do with business?

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Why this works

Shows their human side and reveals interests outside of work, making them more relatable.

11

If you could make one company policy disappear, what would it be?

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Why this works

Opens up about frustrations with corporate bureaucracy and what they'd change if they could wave a magic wand.

12

What's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you in a professional setting?

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Why this works

Shows vulnerability and willingness to laugh at themselves, making them more approachable.

13

If you could have dinner with any business leader, living or dead, who would it be and why?

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Why this works

Reveals who they admire and what qualities they value in leaders, with room for humorous choices.

14

What's your favorite way to procrastinate?

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Why this works

Humanizes them by showing they struggle with the same challenges as everyone else.

15

If you could rename our company, what would you call it?

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Why this works

Opens up creative and potentially funny alternatives that reveal how they think about the brand.

16

What's the weirdest thing you've ever done to close a deal?

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Why this works

Reveals creative problem-solving and willingness to go the extra mile, often with funny stories attached.

17

If you had to work in a completely different industry, what would you choose?

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Why this works

Shows their alternative interests and what they might do if they weren't in their current role.

18

What's your favorite excuse for being late to a meeting?

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Why this works

Acknowledges that even CEOs are human and sometimes struggle with punctuality, adding humor to a relatable situation.

19

If you could add any perk to the company, no matter how ridiculous, what would it be?

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Why this works

Opens up their imagination and reveals what they think would make work more fun or enjoyable.

20

What's the most unusual question you've ever been asked in an interview?

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Why this works

Opens up about their own interview experiences and often leads to funny stories about awkward or bizarre questions.

Best Practices for Humorous CEO Conversations

Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.

Best Practices

Read the Room

Make sure the setting is appropriate for humor. A company happy hour is different from a formal business meeting. Gauge their mood first.

Be Respectful

Funny doesn't mean disrespectful. Keep questions lighthearted and avoid anything that could be seen as offensive or too personal.

Be Ready to Laugh at Yourself

If you're going to ask funny questions, be prepared to answer them yourself and share in the humor.

Question Sequences

The Hypothetical Fun Sequence

1
If you could have any superpower for a day in the office, what would it be?
2
If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be?
3
If our company was a movie, what genre would it be?

The Personal Side Sequence

1
What's your go-to karaoke song?
2
What's your secret talent that has nothing to do with business?
3
What's your favorite way to procrastinate?

Common Pitfalls

Don't Force It

If the CEO isn't in a playful mood or the moment isn't right, don't push humor. It can backfire and make things awkward.

Don't Make Fun of Them

The goal is to laugh with them, not at them. Avoid questions that could be seen as mocking their position or decisions.

Don't Overstep Boundaries

Remember they're still the CEO. Maintain appropriate professional boundaries even while being funny.

Conversation Templates

The Lighthearted Ice Breaker

1
Step 1: Start with: "If you could have any superpower for a day in the office, what would it be?"
2
Step 2: Follow with: "What's the funniest thing that's ever happened in a board meeting?"
3
Step 3: Continue with: "If you could swap jobs with anyone in the company for a day, who would it be?"

The Human Side Reveal

1
Step 1: Begin with: "What's your go-to karaoke song?"
2
Step 2: Explore with: "What's your secret talent that has nothing to do with business?"
3
Step 3: Connect with: "What's your favorite way to procrastinate?"

Further Reading

"The Humor Advantage" by Steve Rizzo
"Bringing Up the Boss" by Rachel Pacheco
"Thanks for the Feedback" by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen

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