than scintillating. The fault lies with the person who introduced the two
the way most people introduce their friends to each otherwith naked names.
They cast out a line with no bait for people to sink their teeth into.
Big winners may not talk a lot, but conversation never dies unwillingly
in their midst. They make sure of it with techniques like Never the Naked
Introduction. When they introduce peple, they buy an insurance policy on
the conversation with a few simple add-ons: Susan, Id like you to meet
John. John has a woderful boat we took a trip on last summer. John, this is
Susan Smith. Susan is editor in chief of Shoestring Gourmet magazine.
Padding the introduction gives Susan the opportunity to ask what kind
of boat John has or where the group went. It gives John an opening to
discuss his love of writing. Or of cooking. Or of
food. The conversation can then naturally expand to travel in geeral, life
on boats, past vacations, favorite recipes, restaurants, bugets, diets,
magazines, editorial policyto infinity.
If youre not comfortable mentioning someones job during the
introduction, mention their hobby or even a talent. The other day at a
gathering, the hostess introduced a man named Gilbert. She said, Leil, Id
like you to meet Gilbert. Gilberts gift is sculping. He makes beautiful wax
carvings. I remember thinking, Giftnow thats a lovely way to introduce
someone and induce conversation.
Armed with these two personality enhancers, three converstion igniters,
and three small extenders, it is time to take a step up the communications
ladder. Let us now rise from small talk and seek the path to more
meaningful dialogue. The next technique is guaranteed to make the
exchange engrossing for your converstion partner.
Technique #17
Never the Naked Introduction
When introducing people, dont throw out an unbaited hook and stand
there grinning like a big clam, leaving the newlymets to flutter their fins
and fish for a topic. Bait the conversational hook to get them in the swim of
things. Then youre free to stay or float on to the next networking
opportunity.
How to Resuscitate a Dying Conversation
Even a well-intentioned husband who might ask his wife while making
love, Is it good for you, too, Honey? knows not to ask a colleague, Is the
conversation good for you, too? Yet he woders... we all do. With the
ooja
(Ooja)
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