# Stop Asking “What Do You Do?” The Better Question That Builds Real Connection

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260/stop-asking-what-do-you-do-the-better-question-that-builds-real-connection
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260/stop-asking-what-do-you-do-the-better-question-that-builds-real-connection.md
Podcast: [Coachful Coaching Leadership Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260)
Published: 2026-03-01T16:54:28+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/david-fung7/episodes/Stop-Asking-What-Do-You-Do--The-Better-Question-That-Builds-Real-Connection-e3fpdub
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/dd8ca6e4/podcast/play/116225419/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-1%2F419062777-44100-2-a8e19d68b97dd.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260/episodes/stop-asking-what-do-you-do-the-better-question-that-builds-real-connection
Duration seconds: 2001

## Resource

Most networking starts with the wrong question: “What do you do?” In this conversation, executive coach and classically trained singer Jessica Wan breaks down why that question shuts people down, especially during layoffs, transitions, and identity shifts, and what to ask instead if you want a real connection. We also talk about rebuilding community outside of work, why “together” is her word for 2026, and how her best work happens when the creative side and the business side actually meet.If this hit home, drop a comment with the better question you want to start using. CONNECT WITH JESSICA Website: https://www.jessicawan.com/About: https://www.jessicawan.com/about-jessicaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicamwan/The Ampersand Manifesto: https://www.theampersandmanifesto.com/Ampersand on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5AMXZidOLLlcRSbjo57dC9Ampersand on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ampersand-manifesto-make-your-mark-in-multiple-fields/id1636945117 CONNECT WITH COACHFUL COACHING YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachfulcoaching Spotify: https://spotify.link/NTBgVJIL3yb Apple: https://apple.co/41Cz5gI CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: why “what do you do” fails 02:09 Fear-based times and what leaders are feeling 04:20 Rebuilding community after leaving a role 10:53 How to talk about uncertainty without spiraling 14:15 When your network is tied to work identity 19:32 The hidden damage of “What do you do?” 23:58 Better questions: what are you excited about? 29:00 Jessica’s word for 2026: Together 30:45 Blending art + business: the Opera Parallel story 32:55 Create space and your life fills it 36:56 Jessica’s links + The Ampersand Manifesto

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260/episodes/stop-asking-what-do-you-do-the-better-question-that-builds-real-connection/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/coachful-coaching-leadership-podcast-6308260/stop-asking-what-do-you-do-the-better-question-that-builds-real-connection.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.