Quick
Tips for Making Small Talk
- by KissMeGoodnight.com
The ability to make small talk may come naturally
to some and be difficult for others but it is a skill that
can be obtained with a little bit of practice and confidence.
The opportunity to make small talk presents itself on a daily
basis in our lives. Anytime you are out and about, you have
the opportunity to make small talk with those around you. While
sometimes it’s just a matter of politeness that leads you to
engage in small talk, it can also be a great networking opportunity
for you. Practicing your small talk skills on a daily basis
will give you the confidence you need to approach potential
clients or colleagues at important networking events. Also,
it is important to make sure that your body language conveys
a sense of confidence. If you appear timid or uncomfortable
you may put others on edge as well but if you appear confident
it will help the other person to relax. If you are unsure of
yourself and hesitant to make small talk with strangers you
may find yourself missing out on many opportunities in both
your career and social life. However, confidence in your ability
to make small talk can put you in a great position for advancement
in your career and social life.
Having
confidence in yourself is critical to being able to make
small talk. Keep in mind that the other person you are
chatting with is probably just as uncomfortable as you are
so don’t assume that they are more eloquent speaker than you
are and be afraid to approach them. Confidence is key to making
small talk because without confidence, you may simply choose
not to engage in small talk when the opportunity presents itself.
A lack of confidence may lead you to avoid approaching others
and discourage others from approaching you. If you lack the
confidence necessary to make small talk you may miss out on
meeting a lot of new people.
Keeping
abreast of current events is another tip for making small
talk. Watch the news and read newspapers on a regular
basis. This will keep you informed of newsworthy local and
world events. This is important because current events can
be a very easy subject for small talk. Being aware of what
is going on in the world will make you seem educated and will
prove that you are a concerned citizen who takes an interest
in important issues. Also, being aware of current events is
critical to being able to make small talk because it allows
you to speak intelligently on a wide variety of subjects. Keep
in mind that you don’t always have to be the one to start a
conversation so it’s not enough to have a few tidbits of information
prepared for small talk. You also have to be ready and able
to respond to whatever subject your companion brings up in
an attempt to engage you in small talk. If you keep yourself
informed of a wide variety of subjects by utilizing newspapers,
the Internet and news programs, you will find yourself more
prepared to engage in small talk.
Listening
is also a very important tip for making small talk. It is one thing to be able to strike up a conversation but
it is another thing to really keep up a conversation, especially
with a stranger. One way to maintain a conversation is to really
listen to your companion. Listening carefully will ensure that
you hear all the details that your companion offers. Use the
information that you obtain to expand the conversation by asking
questions about something they said earlier in the conversation
or offering a personal anecdote that relates to a story they
have just told you. Listening really enhances your ability
to make small talk for a number of reasons. First it gives
you ways to expand the conversation by asking pertinent questions
or relating a story they tell to a personal experience. Listening
also helps you make small talk by encouraging the other person
to continue talking. If they can tell you are really interested
in what they have to say because you are listening so intently,
they will be encouraged to maintain the conversation instead
of making an excuse to end the conversation quickly.
Finally,
the key to making small talk is knowing when and how to
end the conversation. Small talk isn’t meant to last
very long and it can become tedious and uncomfortable if it
extends past a certain amount of time. Even if things are going
well and both parties are enjoying the small talk, ending the
conversation before it begins to wane is important. If you
are uncomfortable saying goodbye or ending a conversation have
a few well rehearsed exit lines to end the conversation quickly.
Small
talk is an important part of our daily lives. While
it can be avoided, it is really not anything to be afraid of
and small talk can lead to exciting developments in your career
and social life. Engaging in small talk makes you seem more
approachable and if you are able to make small talk with ease,
people will be more inclined to let you in on potential business
deals or let you know about social events that they are aware
of in the area. Never underestimate the power or small talk
and never assume that you are not capable of making small talk.
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KissMeGoodnight.com : 2005
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