How to Make Small Talk—Just in Time for the Cocktail Party Frenzy
@enjoystudio (Source: mydomaine.com)
Whether it's your Uber driver, your doorman, or the gentleman waiting in line behind you at Starbucks, see everyone you meet as a potential conversation partner.
It is an easy way to make small talk more stimulating.
Not all party guests are fortunate enough to have exceptional conversational skills. Test the waters with party guests by asking a simple follow-up question for making meaningful small talk.
For instance, if you ask where someone is from and it's a different city than where they live now, you can ask if they want to eventually move back to their hometown.
If your conversation counterpart gives you a meaty answer, you may be in for an interesting conversation.
We're prone to prepping our next comment while our conversation partner is still speaking.
Slow down your mind, and let the conversation direct the flow of discussion, not your premeditated small-talk plan.
If you pick up on nonverbal cues from your counterpart, you'll be able to make them feel more comfortable and, hopefully, more likely to participate in a meaningful conversation.
Sometimes you're not going to jibe with a party guest.
It may be someone you've never met or it may be the same person you see every year and never have much to talk about.
Stay on top of the news so you're always ready to offer your take on the subject at hand.
Everyone has been somewhere cool or made a travel bucket list they're dying to start fulfilling.
It also distracts from the typical job, family, and personal life questions that you may not want to get into detail about.
If you're stressed or anxious about sounding impressive doing the holiday rounds, you'll come off as such.
What's worse? You probably won't enjoy yourself.