You don’t need perfect words to be unforgettable. You just need presence, curiosity, and a little courage. Now that you know how to keep a conversation going smoothly, go spark a talk worth remembering. Asking someone what https://theorg.com/org/asiatalks they do, or what they’re studying, can open up a ton of follow-up questions. It’s not just about their job title; it’s about what excites them, frustrates them, or even what they wish they were doing instead.
Don’t Know What To Say? How To Know What To Talk About
It doesn’t have to be stand-up-level, just be playful or mildly self-deprecating if that’s your style. Say someone tells you they recently went on a cross-country road trip. Rather than shifting the focus to yourself with your last vacation story, try following up with, “What made you choose that route? ” It keeps the attention on them and allows for a deeper response. We’re on a mission to help you build lasting business relationships. Get sales tips and strategies delivered straight to your inbox.
- Be careful about making jokes that will be perceived as insensitive.
- This is because people with strong social connections tend to have better health behaviors, cope better with stress, and have a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life.
- It’s okay to politely end a conversation when it seems to have run its course.
- A “story starter” triggers curiosity, emotion and intrigue.
The art of conversation is often taken for granted, but don’t underestimate how important it really is in the workplace — especially in sales. Develop your interpersonal skills with our series of eBooks. Learn about and improve your communication skills, tackle conflict resolution, mediate in difficult situations, and develop your emotional intelligence.
Achieve Goals That Matter, In Time You Can Control
Facing someone new and striking up a conversation can feel daunting, but it’s a skill that gets easier with practice. The key is to keep things flowing and engaging for both of you. In order to keep a conversation interesting, there should be more than just one person talking. Hence, the other person should be given an equal opportunity to be part of the conversation. To keep a conversation going, you must ask open-ended questions.
Some people immediately get feelings of social anxiety when they think about having to navigate small talk or networking conversations. So, try changing it up to keep the conversation flowing. Talk about an interesting topic or at the very least, ask better questions. Remember, it’s essential to gauge the other person’s interest and comfort in the conversation topics. Another strategy is to shift the focus to the other person’s interests or experiences, which can reignite their enthusiasm and, in turn, the conversation.