How to Make Small Talk
Have approachable body language., Give a friendly greeting., Keep things light and positive., Start with a small compliment.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Have approachable body language.
If you want to make a person feel comfortable, the best thing to do is to have an "open stance" and to direct your body toward that person without being too forceful.
Just make eye contact, don't cross your arms, and face your shoulders toward that person.
This will make the person feel like you're giving him all of your attention and that you're not just lukewarm about talking to him.
Maintain the right distance from the person.
Put away your phone.
There's nothing more annoying than talking to a person who is constantly checking his cell.
Though you should look eager to talk to the person, don't look too eager.
Don't lean in so close that you overwhelm the person or scare him away.
Many people are turned off by a close-talker. -
Step 2: Give a friendly greeting.
If you're seeing someone you already know, just say hello and greet her by her name: "Hi, Jen, it's good to see you." This is simple and direct and lets the person know you're excited to talk.
If you don't know the person, introduce yourself first so you feel more confident and in control of the conversation.
Just say, "Hi, I'm Marla, what's your name?" Repeat the person's name when she tells it to you, and she'll feel more special.
Remember to smile and pay attention to the person when you greet her.
Don't make it look like you're just killing time until your real friends come along. , Conversations are just as much about an exchange of energy as an exchange of information.
To make great conversation and great small talk, you should keep things light, fun, and positive.
If you're upbeat, ready to smile at a moment's notice, and laugh over things that aren't that funny, then you'll make the other person want to keep talking to you
-- even if you're only talking about your favorite brands of cereal.
It's true: it may be hard to keep things light and fun when you've had a really bad day or bad week.
But remember that if you're making small talk, then this person is not your closest friend, so you should avoid talking about anything too negative or the other person will be turned off. , Just a simple, "I love your shoes
-- where did you get them?" can get you into a fun conversation about shoe shopping.
Even if the compliment doesn't lead anywhere, it will still make the person feel more appreciated before you start discussing other subjects.
You can also use this move earlier, as a way to actually introduce yourself to someone. -
Step 3: Keep things light and positive.
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Step 4: Start with a small compliment.
Detailed Guide
If you want to make a person feel comfortable, the best thing to do is to have an "open stance" and to direct your body toward that person without being too forceful.
Just make eye contact, don't cross your arms, and face your shoulders toward that person.
This will make the person feel like you're giving him all of your attention and that you're not just lukewarm about talking to him.
Maintain the right distance from the person.
Put away your phone.
There's nothing more annoying than talking to a person who is constantly checking his cell.
Though you should look eager to talk to the person, don't look too eager.
Don't lean in so close that you overwhelm the person or scare him away.
Many people are turned off by a close-talker.
If you're seeing someone you already know, just say hello and greet her by her name: "Hi, Jen, it's good to see you." This is simple and direct and lets the person know you're excited to talk.
If you don't know the person, introduce yourself first so you feel more confident and in control of the conversation.
Just say, "Hi, I'm Marla, what's your name?" Repeat the person's name when she tells it to you, and she'll feel more special.
Remember to smile and pay attention to the person when you greet her.
Don't make it look like you're just killing time until your real friends come along. , Conversations are just as much about an exchange of energy as an exchange of information.
To make great conversation and great small talk, you should keep things light, fun, and positive.
If you're upbeat, ready to smile at a moment's notice, and laugh over things that aren't that funny, then you'll make the other person want to keep talking to you
-- even if you're only talking about your favorite brands of cereal.
It's true: it may be hard to keep things light and fun when you've had a really bad day or bad week.
But remember that if you're making small talk, then this person is not your closest friend, so you should avoid talking about anything too negative or the other person will be turned off. , Just a simple, "I love your shoes
-- where did you get them?" can get you into a fun conversation about shoe shopping.
Even if the compliment doesn't lead anywhere, it will still make the person feel more appreciated before you start discussing other subjects.
You can also use this move earlier, as a way to actually introduce yourself to someone.
About the Author
Carol Kelly
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in practical skills and beyond.
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