Small talks are the most awkward conversations when it comes to socializing. It is the need of the time to connect with different people on several occasions. Our society stands still on these connections and bonds. Humans are surrounded by each other all the time and everywhere. From a private place like home to public spaces, there are hundreds of people who communicate with each other. Mostly the conversations take place among known people like when you are at home you talk to your family or when you are at work you talk to the colleagues. But how do those people become your close ones? Every relationship begins with “the small talk” which is always awkward at first. The small talks are conversation openers.
Talking to someone you do not know and have no idea about can be quite risky. The other person may not respond well to your small talk. It can become embarrassing if the respondent does not reply or gets offended. Small conversations have to be interesting so that the other person gets attentive and replies. Weather-related conversations have been the best to initiate a conversation with a stranger. One statement “The weather is so hot today, ” will result in an instant reply from people around you in agreement. And the conversation about the weather of the season and the upcoming season will start ending somewhere at how global warming has affected the environment leading to such a drop in the temperature. If you have problems making small talks with strangers in events and you want to learn how to make the small talks less awkward, then you should start with the following:
#1. The People At The Desk
If you have a fear of rejection or if you are just hesitant about how the other may react then try talking to people who will surely reply. If a person has a fear of talking to other people, then the only way to get rid of fear is to face it. You doubt that talking to an acquaintance can make a bad impression then you should talk to someone whose opinion will not matter to you like talking to the people who serve you. For example, talk to the one who is serving the coffee or someone who is riding you to your workplace. These people are at your service, and they are trained to reply to the customers. They can be the people with whom you can experiment the small talk. Talk to them about anything related to their work or their life at work, and they will reply affirmatively. Keeping the customers happy is a part of their job, and even they need to talk to people. You can take out your fear of an awkward small talk with them.
#2. “Hey, You Look Good”
It just takes four words to make someone’s day. If you want to make a small talk less awkward, then begin by complementing the person. When you compliment a person, they are relieved of the tension at the moment, and they feel happier. Every person loves compliments. When a person is happy and happy because of you, then they will definitely have a conversation with you. They start thinking of you positively. You should instantly come up with something else to keep a conversation with the person which is different from the compliment you paid. You can always come up with a conversation about the host of the party or the common friend to keep the conversation.
#3. Always Express Gratitude After A Small Talk
How many people get a polite “Thank you” in this world? Hardly any people get it. So why just not be grateful to people who have helped you by making a small talk. Always express gratitude to people who talk to you or other people who help you daily. It is a nice gesture to be thankful for the one who took your order or the one who served you food or the one who waited a while till you were ready to leave. Expressing gratitude can break the ice between two people. The other person will think highly of you assuming that you have very good moral values and you are a humble person.
#4. Call Out With Their Name
It makes a lot of difference when you call a person from their name. Instead of calling someone ‘dude,' ‘brother’ or ‘miss,' call people from their name. It creates a different impact when you call out from the name. For each person, the most dearly word is their own name. The name is the only thing they can relate to in an unfamiliar environment and when you call them from their name, you make a connection with the person. Everybody calls them dude or miss but the only ones who know them call them using their name. So, you are going to be the one standing out and someone to connect with.
#5. A Man Without Expectations
Be a person without expectations. Do not make a small talk thinking that you will make a good friend because expectations can hurt. Whenever you go to an event or a party, do not have great expectations about it being an amazing night. It can turn out to be the worst day, or it could be the best that you did not imagine. When you have the least expectations then a bad time at the party will not hurt you, but if something great happens, then you will be the most excited being at that point in time.
#6. Talk About The Hot Topic
When you do not have a common topic to talk about someone, and you also don’t know what the other person’s interests are then you can always talk about the hot debate. Any news regarding the event or any topic that has been in the news from a quite a long time can be the topic over which you can talk to the other person. There are maximum possibilities that the person has heard the news, and they may have an opinion regarding the same. You can have a healthy conversation with a person about any political event or a movie that released recently. Some controversial news that everybody talks about can be a plus point and also a negative one. The person may not be in favor of the news so be careful about your choice of hot topic.
#7. Questioning Rather Than Waiting
The best way to get a reply is to ask a question. To keep a conversation and to know more about the person, you should question them. Do not ask anything personal which may offend the person. They may leave the conversation way before you even get to know about them. The questions could be objective as well where they may have to reply with a yes or no. Asking questions is good but do not start interrogating them. A small talk should be a short conversation and nothing more.
#8. Prepare For A Boring Conversation
There are chances that the person you have a conversation with is a boring person or you have bored them. Look for the signs to know if they are uninterested and leave the talk politely. If you are uninterested, then be polite enough to change the topic or leave.
Liked what you just read? If you liked this article, then share your views with us in the comments section below.
10 Opinions
9 Opinions
Small talks can be inconvenient a lot of times. You do not know what to talk about. And what the other
person’s interests may be. It is very important to socialize when you want to make connections at work
specially in networking events. The people gather at such events in search of better opportunities and
people who have opportunities and want talented people gather too. Such meets are very important for
a budding talented person who can achieve a lot if they know how to impress the person into giving
them the opportunity instead of all the others ones who have come. The conversation starts with small
talks and if you are not habitual of having small talks with random people then you are in trouble. S8uch
an event will not bear yo8u any fruit. Everybody must learn to socialize because opportunities could
knock at your door anytime and if you do grab those opportunities instantly then you will struggle your
whole life. The only way out is to go through this. Start learning to talk to random strangers politely.
Whenever you are traveling through public transport then you can talk to the person sitting next you or
any café where you have your coffee every day. You can be nice to people who you see every day like the
one who takes the order and the one who delivers it. You can start conversations by complimenting the
person about their attire or by asking them about their work. When you become habitual of having little
talks with people then you will be able to make progress towards meeting and impressing the ones with
big opportunities. It is going to awkward at first and some people may not revert when you try to talk to
them but do not give up. Everybody is not open to