Offering help can make you likable and earn the trust of the other person, especially when you show a genuine concern. From there, you can lead into conversation related to the task, such as what is in the contents of the binders. Requesting help is another effective conversation starter. If someone does you a favor, they may be more likely to think of you in a favorable light and trust you. Asking for help can help you start a friendly conversation, but make sure your request is convenient for the other party.
If you want to talk to someone who you know shares something in common with you, you can always find a topic as a talking point. Your shared experiences make getting along easier, and that aids the flow of the conversation and building of the relationship. If they are familiar with the topic, many people will happily respond to your questions, and it is a perfect way to get a conversation started. When asking an opinion, choose topics relevant to the moment.
Are they comfortable? When you meet an executive or prominent person in your organization for the first time, a great way to hold a conversation with them is to praise their work. You made some really good points. See if you can find a topic you know the person is passionate about. Passions can get your coworkers talking, and you can learn something new. Remember to keep the conversation friendly and positive.
Have you ever been to one of their shows? What is it like there? People naturally like talking about themselves. Try finding a topic that will allow the person to speak about their interests, family or experiences. Commenting on the building, temperature or artwork can all be great ways to get a person talking with you. If all else fails, you can always comment on the weather. It is one of the easiest ways to get someone talking and can segue into multiple other topics.
See examples of ice-breakers below:. Since you now know how to start a conversation, it helps to know the best topics to talk about.
The following topics rank among the most popular among people:. You can ask questions on relationships, siblings, children or even pets. So long as your communication skills are good and the questions are not too intimate, people will often feel proud to talk freely about their families.
This is a perfect topic for a work happy hour or a team function. It is a way to engage in small talk and learn more about a person quickly.
People are passionate about sports and will gladly share their passion. If you want to know how to start a good conversation, just follow these steps. To start a good conversation with someone you like, try asking them for a drink recommendation, bringing up your pets, talking to them about the music that's playing, or just asking what they like to do for fun.
Remember that the way you say something is more important than what you say. Make eye contact, smile, and be positive and a little flirty. Avoid bringing up serious topics like work since you want to keep things light and fun.
For more tips, like how to start a conversation with a potential friend or co-worker, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article.
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Related Articles. Article Summary. Support wikiHow and unlock all samples. Method 1. Make them feel like you care. You can turn a total stranger into a friend just by making them feel like you care about what they have to say and that their opinion matters to you. If the person thinks you're talking just to hear your own voice, they'll be turned off immediately.
Instead, turn your body and focus toward that person and maintain eye contact without being too intense. Give the person enough personal space, but show that the person has your attention. Make the person feel like their thoughts are important. If they begin to talk about a subject, ask more questions about it instead of talking about something that you really want to talk about.
Use the person's name once or twice after you learn it. If the person talks first, nod intently to show that you're listening. Ask questions without interrogating them. Many a good conversation begins with questions but the person you're talking to should not feel as if their being interviewed at a police station. Do not fire questions at the person without giving your feedback and actually conversing with them. Nothing is worse than feeling like you're getting the third degree.
Asking too many questions will only make the other person feel uncomfortable and will leave them finding a way out of the conversation. Say, "Sorry -- the interview is over," and move on to talking about something else. Ask the person about their hobbies or interests, not about his dreams and desires. Talk about something fun. Don't ask the person what they thinks about the latest tragedy on the news or how much they've had to work overtime recently.
Make the person enjoy the subject of the conversation as well as the conversation itself. Make sure that you're sharing, too. Ideally, you and the other person should share the same amount. Be funny. This doesn't mean that you have to do a stand-up routine but just throw in some jokes and tell them a funny story to break the ice. You'll be surprised at how sharing funny stories will get others to open up.
Everyone likes to laugh and laughing makes others feel comfortable. This is a nice way to lighten up those tense people and to get them talking. Show that you're quick on your feet and are comfortable with wordplay, clever jokes, and general banter. If you have a killer funny story, use it, as long as it's short. Don't tell a long story you haven't tried out before or you may fall flat on your face. Ask open ended questions.
Open ended questions are questions that require more than a yes or no for an answer. Tell an intelligent, clean joke that makes the other person smile and you've instantly created a sympathetic connection that can sometimes sustain for an entire conversation. With premeditated jokes, you can easily find a joke related to your intended topic of conversation and lead in with it--it will seem innocuous and give you an opportunity to lead the conversation to your ultimate destination.
Any observation will do, but try to find something related to your intended topic of discussion. Point something out and ask your conversational partner what they think of it--it could be a strange mark on the floor or a piece of news that recently came out. Then, gradually introduce a string of conversation that points toward your intended goal. People participate in conversations best when asked specific questions. Rather than trying to open a conversation with your intended topic directly, ask a related question to prime your conversational partner and loosely open into it.
For example, if you want to talk about the book you're about to release, you could open with something like, "have you read any good books lately? Once you've started a conversation that has the potential to lead just about anywhere, all that stands between you and your intended topic is a directional series of questions and responses.
That's a fancy way of saying all you need to do is hang onto the conversation long enough to gradually introduce the topic you want to explore. Remember, the key to successfully leading a conversation into a direction is to do so subtly--trying to force a topic onto somebody is a sure way to turn them off.
A friendly expression, comfortable stance, and good eye contact, for example, can help show that you have a genuine interest in learning more about another person. Slouching, looking away, and frowning, on the other hand, might make your conversation partner feel that you are bored or disinterested. Encouraging nonverbal signals include:. It can be intimidating to try to talk to someone when it feels that you have little in common.
In these situations, getting the other person to talk about their own interests, work, or expertise can be a useful way to start a conversation. Ask a question about what the other person does, then focus on really listening to what they have to say. People often enjoy talking about things they are passionate about, so expressing a genuine interest in the things that other people enjoy can be excellent fuel for a great conversation.
A good conversation does not rely on just one approach. The best discussions involve a mixture of asking questions, listening to what other people have to say, and sharing things about yourself.
A simple conversation might start by:. You may also find it helpful to ask open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a simple "yes" or "no. Learning how to start a conversation is an important skill that can help you build social connections in a wide variety of contexts.
It can be difficult initially, particularly if you struggle with shyness or social anxiety, but gaining plenty of practice is the key to become more comfortable talking to other people. Try to think of every one of these interactions as a practice session. The more often you initiate discussions with others, the stronger your conversational skills will become. Forging strong social connections is critical for both physical and mental health.
Research has found that forming social relationships is linked to a stronger immune system, increased longevity, lower anxiety levels, greater empathy for others, and better self-esteem.
By learning how to start a conversation, you will be better able to forge the social connections that are so critical to health and well-being. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Preference for opening lines: comparing ratings by men and women. Sex Roles. Eavesdropping on happiness: well-being is related to having less small talk and more substantive conversations. Psychol Sci. Umberson D, Montez, JK.
Social relationships and health: A flashpoint for health policy. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.
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