It is not necessary, of course, to stay with mundane remarks. If you find
your company displays cleverness or wit, you match that. The conversation
then escalates naturally, compatibly. Dont rush it or, like the Mensans, you
seem like youre showing off. The bo tom line on your first words is to have
the courage of your own triteness. Because, remember, people tune in to
your tone more than your text.
Anything, Except Liverwurst!
Back to Dottie waiting for her sandwich at her desk. Sometimes as I
walked out the door scratching my head wondering what to bring her, shed
call after me, Anything, except liverwurst, that is. Thanks, Dottie, thats a
little bit of help.
Heres my anything, except liverwurst on small talk. Anthing you say is
fine as long as it is not complaining, rude, or
Technique #1 1
Prosaic with Passion
Worried about your first words? Fear not, because 80 percent of your
listeners impression has nothing to do with your words anyway. Almost
anything you say at first is fine. No matter how prosaic the text, an
empathetic mood, a positive demeanor, and passionate delivery make you
sound exciting.
How to Sound Like Youve Got a Super Personality 55
unpleasant. If the first words out of your mouth are a complaint
BLAMpeople label you a complainer. Why? Because that coplaint is your
new acquaintances 100 percent sampling of you so far. You could be the
happiest Pollyanna ever, but how will they know? If your first comment is a
complaint, youre a griper. If your first words are rude, youre a creep. If your
first words are unpleaant, youre a stinker. Open and shut.
Other than these downers, anything goes. Ask them where theyre from,
how they know the host of the party, where they bought the lovely suit
theyre wearingor hundreds of etceteras. The trick is to ask your prosaic
question with passion to get the other person talking.
Still feel a bit shaky on making the approach to strangers? Lets take a
quick detour on our road to meaningful communicating. Ill give you three
quickie techniques to meet people at parties then nine more to make small
talk not so small.
How to Make People Want to Start a Conversation with You
ooja
(Ooja)
#1