You have been there. You are introduced to someone. You shake hands, your eyes meet, and then ...
What do I say after I say Hello?
What do I say after I say Hello?
Don't worry.
Melody
80 percent of your listener's impression has nothing to do with your words. Small talk is about melody. You must first match your listener's mood and voice of tone.
It's not what you say that matters, it's how you say it. A passionate delivery makes you sound exciting.
It's not what you say that matters, it's how you say it. A passionate delivery makes you sound exciting.
An old friend
Here's a mental trick you can play on yourself. In your mind's eye, see him or her as an old friend.
Suddenly, WOW! What a surprise! After all those years, the two of you are reunited. You are so happy.
The secret to making people like you is showing how much you like them.
Suddenly, WOW! What a surprise! After all those years, the two of you are reunited. You are so happy.
The secret to making people like you is showing how much you like them.
Throw out some facts
When asked "What do you do?", flesh it out. Throw out some delicious facts about your job for them to munch on. You can also prepare different variations of this answer, depending on who's asking.
Also, learn some engaging facts about your hometown that they can comment on. Never provide a one-word answer on the question "And where are you from?".
Also, learn some engaging facts about your hometown that they can comment on. Never provide a one-word answer on the question "And where are you from?".
Lingo of the crowd
Learn some opening questions and the lingo of the crowd you will be with. Find out what the hot issues are in their fields. Listen to a newscast just before you leave. Anything that happened today is good material.
Learn some opening questions and the lingo of the crowd you will be with. Find out what the hot issues are in their fields. Listen to a newscast just before you leave. Anything that happened today is good material.
Be a detective ... and a parrot
When talking with anyone, like a good detective, listen for clues. Be on the lookout for any unusual references: any anomaly, deviation, digression. Then ask about it.
Like a parrot, simply repeat the last few words your conversation partner says. Echo their nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives back.
Hearing their words come out of your mouth makes them feel you share their values, their attitudes and their interests.
When talking with anyone, like a good detective, listen for clues. Be on the lookout for any unusual references: any anomaly, deviation, digression. Then ask about it.
Like a parrot, simply repeat the last few words your conversation partner says. Echo their nouns, verbs, prepositions, adjectives back.
Hearing their words come out of your mouth makes them feel you share their values, their attitudes and their interests.
Say their name
People perk up when they hear their own name. Use it more often on the phone than you would in person to keep their attention and to replace eye contact.
People perk up when they hear their own name. Use it more often on the phone than you would in person to keep their attention and to replace eye contact.
Indirect compliments
Instead of telling someone directly of your admiration, tell someone who is close to the person you wish to compliment.
A compliment one hears is never as exciting as the one he/she overhears. Keep your ears open for good things people say about each other.
Pass it on.
Instead of telling someone directly of your admiration, tell someone who is close to the person you wish to compliment.
A compliment one hears is never as exciting as the one he/she overhears. Keep your ears open for good things people say about each other.
Pass it on.
"How to talk to anyone" by Leil Lowndes
