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Dec 20, 2019 · 1. Try these 7 conversation openers. Use your surroundings or situation to come up with things to say. You can start with something simple, like this: Ask a simple question: “Do you know where the closest Starbucks is?” Talk about a shared experience: “That meeting/seminar went into overtime.”
- Best: Weather. Although talking about the weather may seem mundane, it is a good neutral topic that everyone can discuss.1 Did a big storm just blow through?
- Best: Arts and Entertainment. Arts and entertainment topics that are good conversation starters include: Movies and television shows. Popular restaurants. Popular music.
- Best: Sports. Sports topics that you can discuss with others include: Favorite or local teams. Sporting events. Tournaments or championships. Keep track of what sports are played during which seasons, such as football, soccer, hockey, and golf, so that you are on top of the current action.2 For example, when the Olympics are taking place, everyone is sure to be buzzing about them.
- Best: Family. People are likely to ask you about your family. Conversation openers about family may include: Do you have any brothers or sisters? How long have you been with your partner?
Feb 28, 2024 · Small talk is a quasi-universal tool for initiating conversations with strangers from different cultures, for building a quick rapport, and for planting the seeds of deeper relationships — but...
- Ask An Open Ended Question. One of the easiest ways to start a conversation is by asking a question. The key is to ask open ended questions that require more than a yes or no answer and encourages the other person to share more information and keeps the conversation flowing.
- Talk About Upcoming Events And Fun Social Activities. Discussing upcoming events and fun social activities can be a good way to set the tone and direction of a conversation.
- Be Funny. Being funny can be a great way to break the ice and make small talk more enjoyable. You could make a light-hearted comment or joke about your surroundings, the situation, or even the weather.
- Comment On The Surroundings. Talking about the immediate surroundings and what’s going on around you can be a great way to quickly find common ground with someone new.
- 5 min
- Angela Haupt
- Reframe the conversation as a treasure hunt. Alison Wood Brooks gets excited about small talk—and for years, it didn’t occur to her that some people dreaded it.
- Take advantage of “free information” Lean into your surroundings, says Debra Fine, an expert on communication skills and author of The Fine Art of Small Talk.
- Don’t linger too long on low-priority topics. Think of conversation topics as a pyramid, Brooks says. The foundation consists of the obligatory small talk anyone can master: How about that rain?
- Compliment unique forms of personal expression. Try not to comment on someone’s looks, which could come across as “creepy,” Sandstrom says. (For example: Avoid “you have such beautiful eyes,” which might make the recipient want to shuffle away as quickly as possible.)
Oct 12, 2023 · Conversation Starters. Small Talk Questions. How to Get Better at Small Talk. Avoiding Small Talk. What is small talk? Small talk is light, informal conversation people use when talking to others they don’t know very well. These conversations typically happen at networking or social events.
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Nov 20, 2023 · There are five strategic tips on how to get better at small talk and be able to start a conversation in any situation. Show a genuine interest. If you want to polish your conversational skills and find out how to make small talk effective, you have to dismiss any prejudice that this type of conversation is meaningless. Every new person you ...
