The other day I was talking to an NFL Head Coach (related by marriage) and just getting caught up on things, a nice simple chat. When a gentlemen approached him and asked “You all going to make it to the Super Bowl this year?”. I felt like this was a simplistic question. One that anyone could have asked that had a cursory knowledge of the game.
I even took it as a sign of disrespect as well … call me judgmental. If I were going to approach someone, ask someone out to lunch/coffee. I would want to do a bit of reading, educating myself on their world. What their concerns are. What problems are they facing. What might be troubling them.
Put yourself in their shoes, try and view the world from their perspective. This will begin to work within you on changing your outlook on things. Widen your perspective.