Ok. Here’s a lesson that should’ve been taught I long time ago. I love meeting new people. I love talking to people and discovering more about them. What I don’t love is… small talk! It’s boring, it’s sad and makes me excited about doing French verb conjugation (and that’s the lowest of lows!)
When did people lose the ability to hold interesting conversations without starting with the generics; (I’m totally guilty of doing this and I quietly hate myself
- What’s your name?
- Where are you from?
- What do you study?
- Umm… errrr… do you like cheese? (I would only take that question seriously if you are indeed Channing Tatum or a French connoisseur).
So I’m on a mission to change this! So we can get to know people on a more personal level and not that surface crap that we’re all going to forget the minute they walk out the door.
- When you ask for their name, try and repeat it at least 3 times in conversation. That way you’ll be more likely to remember it.
- Ask them something personal (but not too personal). What does their t-shirt say? Are they wearing an interesting bracelet? Is their hair done extra nice? Just go off of something they’re presenting to you and go with it. It will show that you’ve taken an interest and noticed something about them.
- Tell a funny/interesting story. Take a long shot, capture their attention and at the end of the day they’ll remember you as that girl that went skydiving.
- If you don’t have any cool stories, ask for their opinion about a current news issue. That way you’ll get a deep insight into who they are through their perspectives and values.
- And if you find it difficult to find the right words, why not just ask them to dance?
Regardless of what you talk about, take the opportunity to get to know someone and the real them! And who knows, you may even make a lifelong friend!
xxx A
Enjoy the animated, exciting and memorable small talk!
A Worldly Addiction 