How to Start a Conversation Guaranteed

Aug 26
09:21

2010

Joshua Uebergang

Joshua Uebergang

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An old adage says that being in conversation is easy. Starting one is difficult. Most people would tend to agree, just as starting just about any endeavor can be a difficult and arduous proposition. Here are a few surefire ways to start a conversation, guaranteed to work on anyone in any social situation.

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An old adage says that being in conversation is easy. Starting one is difficult. Most people would tend to agree,How to Start a Conversation Guaranteed Articles just as starting just about any endeavor can be a difficult and arduous proposition. But never fear, all it takes to start a good conversation (or even a bad one) is confidence, a little preparation and the ability to take a risk and not worry about the possibility of making yourself look slightly foolish. Here are a few surefire ways to start a conversation, guaranteed to work on anyone in any social situation.

KNOW YOUR PARTNER
If you know ahead of time who you will be attempting to converse with, it pays to perform a little due diligence and get a head start on figuring out what you want to say, what you think that person will be interested in hearing, and figuring out the best and most effective ways of saying it beforehand. If you do not know your conversation partner ahead of time, if it is someone whom you just met, you need to learn how to read them, how to guess their interests and look for clues in their style, and how they carry themselves to kick off a conversation.

READ A NEWSPAPER OR WATCH THE NEWS
Try to get a handle on the current events and headlines of the day, every day, as these are a great method for kick starting conversations in any situation with any one. Even if the other person is not well-versed or up-to-date with the news, this works to your advantage as it gives you plenty to talk about.

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Know and observe all facets of the environment around you and pick up on as many elements about it as you can on the fly, and always keep a witty insight about it ready to go if you can find no other method for starting a conversation. Remember, the environment that you share with your conversation partner is the only thing you know for certain that you share with them. Use this to find out what else you two may share as well.

PRACTICE A FEW WELL-REHEARSED ANECDOTES
This is where the preparation work comes into play. Thinking up some witty, insightful things to say and some well thought out pithy anecdotes can make you seem endearing to other people. Figure out the best ones to use in a variety of situations, work out the best ways to phrase them, and do your best to memorize them beforehand, and always have them in your back pocket, ready to use whenever you are presented with a new chance to converse with someone new. Having good social skills means you're ready at all times.