Posted by Jess Saba on Wed, Sep 09, 2009 @ 03:14 PM
As a business person, you know the importance of maintaining relationships but sometimes the hardest part of building a relationship is starting the first conversation.
Below are three tips you can use to start a conversation with someone on the street, at a cocktail party or in the office.
Ask about something they are wearing:
If there is someone you would like to talk to, but can't think of something to say then ask about something they are wearing, holding or even looking at.
The clothes people wear, the wine they are drinking, the fact that they do not wear a watch or their tendancy to examine woodwork are all strong ingredients for an interesting conversation.
I once met a great friend when I noticed his biking water bottle and asked if he was a cyclist.
Start with a simple observation:
The reason so many people start a conversation with a question about the weather is because topics such as temperature, precipitation, blue skies or a heavy wind are capable of initiating an interaction without offending someone's beliefs, values or opinions.
Choose a neutral topic, make your statement with confidence and conviction.
Ask open ended questions:
Open ended questions give the other person a chance to take the conversation in a variety of different directions. These questions have the potential to elicit much more information than simple yes/no questions.
The answers will help you understand what is important to them and may offer insight into the next topic.
For more tips and tricks for being an expert conversationalist read the book: How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes.