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How to Make Small Talk
Small talk can be a big challenge, but a little preparation
and confidence is all you need.
Instructions
- STEP 1:
Practice. Converse with everyone you come across: cashiers, waiters,
people you're in line with, neighbors, co-workers and kids. Chat with
folks unlike yourself, from seniors to teens to tourists.
- STEP 2:
Read everything: cookbooks, newspapers, magazines, reviews, product
inserts, maps, signs and catalogs. Everything is a source of
information that can be discussed.
- STEP 3:
Force yourself to get into small talk situations, like doctors' waiting
rooms, cocktail parties and office meetings. Accept invitations, or
host your own gathering.
- STEP 4:
Immerse yourself in culture, both high and low. Television, music,
sports, fashion, art and poetry are great sources of chat. If you can't
stand Shakespeare, that too is a good topic for talk.
- STEP 5:
Keep a journal. Write down funny stories you hear, beautiful things you
see, quotes, observations, shopping lists and calls you made. That
story of the long-distance operator misunderstanding you could become
an opening line.
- STEP 6:
Talk to yourself in the mirror. Make a random list of topics and see
what you have to say on the subjects. Baseball, Russia, butter,
hip-hop, shoes ... the more varied your list, the better.
- STEP 7:
Expand your horizons. Go home a new way. Try sushi. Play pinball. Go
online. Paint a watercolor. Bake a pie. Try something new every day.
- STEP 8:
Be a better listener. Did your boss just say she suffers from
migraines? Did your doctor just have twins? These are opportunities for
making small talk.
- STEP 9:
Work on confidence, overcoming shyness and any feelings of stage
fright. Remember, the more you know, the more you know you can talk
about.
Tips & Warnings
- Be yourself. Keep in mind that
confidence and humor are superb substitutes for comedic genius or wit.
- Remember, you never have to do it alone.
- Keepa few exit lines in mind too. For example, "Thanks for the wonderful
chat, but I must make believe I'm interested in everybody else. Tee
hee."
- Keep your fellow
chatterers in mind; naughty stories and loose language will be frowned
upon in many circles. By the same token, your French quips and
scientific discourses will be wasted on some.
Written by Mary Nicole Hicks
Tags:
Dating, Flirt, Flirting
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