Learn more about communication with this collection
How to set clear objectives
How to follow up after a meeting
How to manage time effectively
Tips from a comedian and a journalist on the art of going from
What do these situations have in common? Almost all of them involve people trying to talk with each other. But in these very moments where a conversation would enhance an encounter, we often fall short. We can’t think of a thing to say.
We do a passable job at talking. We stagger through our romantic, professional and social worlds with the goal merely of not crashing, never considering that we might soar. We go home sweaty and puffy, and eat birthday cake in the shower.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Leapfrog Over the Expected Response
Instead of:
Ron: How was your flight?
Carlos: My flight was good!
Beverly: It’s hot today.
Gino: Yeah, it sure is hot.
Riz: What’s up?
Keil: Hey, what’s up?
Try:
Ron: How was your flight?
Carlos: I’d be more i...
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1.32K reads
Ask for stories, not answers
One way to get beyond small talk is to ask open-ended questions. Aim for questions that invite people to tell stories, rather than give bland, one-word answers.
Instead of . . .
“How are you?”
“How was your day?”
“Where are you from?”
“What do you do?”
“What li...
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1.52K reads
Break the Mirror
Small talk stalls out due to the mirror talk phenomenon.
Mirrored Example:
James: It's a beautiful day!
John: Yes, it is a beautiful day!
Practice the art of disruption and move the dialogue forward:
Non-mirrored Example:
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Be Bold
Go ahead, be bold. Upend the dinner table conversation! Turn small talk into big ideas at the next summer wedding reception you’re forced to attend! You never know which ideas will be worth spreading next.
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Try to implore interesting questions
“What’s your story?”
“What did you do today?”
“What’s the strangest thing about where you grew up?”
“What’s the most interesting thing that happened at work today?”
“How’d you end up in your line of work?”
“What does your name mean?
What would you like it to m...
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1.25K reads
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