Small Talk is BIG Talk!

If you’re like most people, walking into a room full of strangers can be overwhelming and downright scary. The reality is that small talk is very important for networking events, interviews and social events.

Preparing for a speech or presentation is critical to ensure your information or message is understood by your audience. Training yourself for impromptu speaking opportunities is no different. I’ve always admired people who have a knack for talking about anything and everything to just about anyone. It’s a joy to be around people who make small talk seem so easy and fun that it’s been a goal of mine for many years. The key is to practice and keep inventing ways to make it easy for you that it becomes “second nature.”

Below are tips I’ve learned from observing other “small talkers” and have proven successful for me:

Hello! The first thing I do now is to be the first to say hello to people as I walk into a room; shaking hands and introducing myself if time permits. Another way to ease my comfort level is offering to help the organizer or hostess which is a good conversation starter. I found that other people will be more approachable if you seem friendly from the start.

Topics. Be prepared to begin a conversation with someone or add during a conversation regarding current events, the social event purpose or personal stories. A well-rounded knowledge of what is happening in our world certainly gives us plenty of topics to select from for conversations.

Listen. One of the best things I’ve found is to listen more than talk. This makes being around people more enjoyable for me because I learn from the experiences or expertise of others. If you are courteous to others; they will be interested in what you share.

Names. You’ve heard this before and it works. When you meet someone, repeat their name when they say it, such as ‘Nice to meet you John” then quietly say it to yourself a few times. Think of a word that describes the person to connect it to their name. The more times you apply this process; the easier it becomes next time.

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