Stop saying 'how are you?' and try these greetings instead

"To begin with, steer clear of bland, clichéd questions that ask both too much and too little of the person you're speaking with. "How are you?" This frequent greeting may be appropriate if you're sitting down for a long conversation with a good friend. There can be times when it's a sign of empathy for a friend you know is going through some difficult times. But for pretty much anyone else, for casual acquaintances, or for colleagues in your office, avoid this greeting."

"People today are facing a host of difficulties. According to a recent report, 66% of people in today's workplace are grappling with some kind of job burnout. Meanwhile, 81% are afraid of losing their jobs. Others face issues at home. Would a colleague want to unpack their life in what is a casual or passing encounter? Not likely. So, the response is usually a nod or a cliché like, "Not bad," or "Okay." The person answering won't feel good about that cop out."

Every encounter with another person is an opportunity to shape that relationship. The first words out of the mouth establish the goodwill essential to positive rapport. Many common openers are either bland or intrusive, prompting perfunctory responses rather than connection. Broad questions like "How are you?" or flippant ones like "What's up?" can demand too much emotional labor or invite clichés. High workplace stress—66% experiencing burnout and 81% fearing job loss—makes casual emotional probing inappropriate. Negative observations, such as commenting someone looks tired, can immediately damage a nascent relationship.

Read at Fast Company