As the holiday party scene heats up, more people will be making small talk with strangers at social and business events. However, many find it difficult to make conversation with others.
"Small talk is important as a way to find out what you have in common with others,"
reports Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP. director of Business Speech Improvement. "It increases the comfort level and makes conversation more targeted towards your goal. This may be asking for information, getting to know a neighbor, or making a sale."
Schwartz, author of the e-book, "Small Talk: Connecting with Others" (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) says that with preparation, making small talk can be easier. Here are three tips she recommends:
1. Think about your goal before talking to the other person.
2. Plan 3-5 questions before the event. Try a statement, followed by a question.
For example, "This is a great barbeque! What's been your favorite food here so far?"
3. Ask follow-up questions about the other person's answers.
Giving someone else your full attention and showing you want to listen to him or her is a real compliment, says Schwartz.
"Small Talk: Connecting with Others" is an economical e-book chock-full of practical tips on starting, continuing and graciously ending conversations. Want to know how to get someone talking, join a group that's already established, or politely leave a boring conversation? The answers are in this book...get it now before your next gathering, at http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks.
Business Speech Improvement (www.businessspeechimprovement.com provides intensive coaching and economical e-books on verbal communication.
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Showing posts with label holiday events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday events. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Hate Making "Small Talk"?
At this time of year, many people go to holiday parties where they hide nervously among the potted plants, wish the floor would swallow them up or that they could go home instantly.
One reason is that they are unskilled in making small talk.
In the e-book "Small Talk:Connecting with Others" (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/ebooks.htm),
readers learn strategies to make connections and how to plan ahead to have ways to start conversations. Basically, people like to talk to others who are like them in some way, and we all have things in common.
What's your worst fear about going to parties and talking to strangers?
One reason is that they are unskilled in making small talk.
In the e-book "Small Talk:Connecting with Others" (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/ebooks.htm),
readers learn strategies to make connections and how to plan ahead to have ways to start conversations. Basically, people like to talk to others who are like them in some way, and we all have things in common.
What's your worst fear about going to parties and talking to strangers?
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