Ask this simple question to start meetings [Video]

Sometimes, Brené Brown starts meetings by asking attendees a simple question: How are you feeling, in two words?

The more common, open-ended version of the icebreaker — “How’s everyone feeling?” — often elicits uninspiring answers, the bestselling author and leadership researcher told organizational psychologist Adam Grant and leadership expert Simon Sinek earlier this month on Sinek’s podcast, “A Bit of Optimism.”

The two-word version prompts honest answers and encourages people to see each other as humans first, co-workers second, said Brown. Common answers include “anxious” and “tired,” or someone describing their mentality as “vacation brain,” she added.

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“Those check-ins in the beginning are kind of grace generators,” Brown said.

If someone says they’re anxious and overwhelmed during a meeting, for example, Brown said she’ll thank them for sharing before moving on to the next person. Then, after the meeting, she’ll inquire about …