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

The approachable person is the one who makes eye contact with you or who is not actively engaged in a conversation or another activity such as reading a newspaper or working at a computer. It’s the solitary person getting a bite to eat, someone sitting alone at a table, or the one crossing the room unescorted. More often than not, these people are

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

Dig deeper. When you engage in a conversation, don’t leave it too quickly.

Lurking somewhere in your conversation is a hilarious event, a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, a ridiculous moment, an exciting accomplishment, a hair-raising happy-ending tale, an uncanny coincidence, or an incredible adventure.

Instead: I’ll get to you no later than next week. Tell people what you will do, not what you hope to do.

It’s important to understand that you don’t have to make small talk

visited that you hope never to return to. 23. What’s the best surprise you’ve ever received? 24. What’s the neatest surprise you’ve ever planned and pulled off for someone else? 25. Skiing here is always challenging. What are some of your favorite places to ski? 26. Who would star as you in a movie about your life? Why that person? 27. Who is the m

Excuse me, I’m not sure I got your name. It

You’ll have to call me tomorrow. This is a busy time for me. This sounds like a person giving orders and placing another burden on my already heavy load! And I don’t like to be bossed around. Instead: You can call me tomorrow. That’s a better time for me.