The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills -- and Leave a Positive Impression!

May I ask your name? Permission is not necessary to ask someone’s name! Instead: What is your name?

Family Tell me about your family. Does everyone live in the area? What do you like best about being a father/mother/son/aunt, etc.? Occupation What got you into your current job? How did you come up with that idea? What are some of the toughest challenges in your job? If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be? How has the Inter

For example, enthusiastic exclamations like What a beautiful day, or That was a great ______ are indirect invitations to chat. Better to be direct, so there is no doubt you are starting a dialogue. Try these:

When someone gives you a smile, you are naturally inclined to smile back. Be the first to smile and greet another person. That’s pretty easy. Just

conversationalist is becoming invested in the conversation and actively working to help the other person feel comfortable. Take

He leaves no opportunity for his captive to offer a confession of any kind. The captive is not allowed to expand, offer additional evidence, ask questions, or even have a glass of water.

experience, she will interrupt to say, essentially, Oh yes, that happened to me, too . .

space program or what will happen to the stock market. • Stop conversation monopolists in their tracks. If possible, wait for the person to take a breath or to pause, then break in with a comment about their topic. Immediately redirect the conversation in the direction you wish it to go. • Be prepared with exit lines. You need to move around and me

If your customer/client/patient mentions her vacation, pick up on the cue and dig deeper. Ask where she went, what she did, what the highlight was, if she would go back. You’ll make her feel good about her life and about taking time with you. Always follow up a question like How’s work? with What’s been going on at work since the last time we spoke

• Be a good listener. That means making eye contact and responding