Small talk is anything but small. But whether you like it or not, it’s an important skill to succeed in your business.
Creating and expanding a business requires having connections and establishing relationships. And small talk is the first step to take if you want to develop a long-term business relationship. It helps you identify similarities, achieve trust, and gain loyalty from customers. It also lets you get closer to people, especially those you don’t know very well yet.
So how can you start and maintain a light conversation? This article discusses 5 strategies to help you master the art of making small talk.
1. Strike up a conversation
Whether it’s a big event or a small party, you won’t get anywhere if you’ll wait for someone to talk to you. So take the initiative and be the first to say “Hi.”
You don’t have to actually say hi or hello. There are many ways to start a conversation aside from introducing yourself. For example, you can start by asking for information or commenting on something pleasant. You can also start by asking or offering help.
Let’s try a scenario. Suppose you’re at a business conference, and a person is seated beside you. First, you need to relax and don’t be anxious. Then you can ask that person a topic-related question like, “Are you familiar with the speaker?” or “Do you know where the bathroom is?”
Once the person answers your question, you can reply by saying, “Thank you. I’m not really familiar with this place. By the way, I am ____.” An important tip here is not to be afraid of people. They will not judge you nor make fun of you. Wait until you’re in a calm position before conversing with someone.
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2. Listen attentively by asking questions
Whether you started a conversation or someone has approached you, your main goal is to maintain the conversation. The best way to do that is to listen carefully.
It may look counterintuitive, but you don’t have to talk too much. You can maintain a conversation by asking questions related to what the person is talking about. And you can do that by listening and really trying to understand the other person. Focus on the other person’s thoughts and feelings and connect by sharing something related to yourself.
Try to ask open-ended questions to make a more dynamic conversation. And once they ask you something, you answer back and ask what they think about it.
3. Show genuine interest
You need to take note of this if you really want to be a good conversationalist. You can’t fake your way in small talk, as people will eventually notice. So to create a bond with someone, you must express genuine interest.
If you’re indeed interested in the person or topic, you can express it by remembering the details of what they’re saying. Confirm by repeating or drawing conclusions from what they said. And remove any distractions. Constantly checking your phone can quickly sabotage a conversation.
4. Get comfortable with pauses
The art of small talk isn’t only about talking and talking and talking. It would help if you also learned when to pause and be comfortable with a little bit of silence. Of course, it’s okay if it takes some time to think of new topics. It’s better to have a moment of silence than fill it with unconnected words.
5. Know when to pull back
A conversation is a two-way effort. If someone you’re talking to isn’t interested or replies with close-ended statements, don’t push it too hard. Respectfully close the conversation by saying compliments before walking away. But don’t be dejected. Instead, look for other people who are interested in you.
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Conclusion
Some think that small talk is such a hassle, but once you master the art of it, you’ll realize how fun it is to know more about people. Being a good conversationalist doesn’t always come naturally, so practice and start by talking to people you’re comfortable with.
