Making Small Talk with Industry Experts

Networking can feel as awkward as a first date. You’re meeting someone new, trying to make a good impression, and hoping they’ll want to stay in touch (or at least remember your name). Uncomfortable? Sometimes. But it’s also an opportunity to build a meaningful connection. I know this firsthand. Ten years ago, I went on a lot of first dates. What set my now-husband apart? He asked great questions, listened attentively, shared openly, and didn’t dominate the conversation. Turns out, those same strategies work well in networking. Here’s how to apply them: 𝟭. 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻) Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions like: “What excites you most about what you’re working on right now?” “How did you get started in your field?” “What’s a challenge you’re tackling that you’re passionate about?” Then, really listen. Engage. Ask follow-up questions. People remember how you make them feel–and feeling heard builds real connection. 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗮 𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 A bad date? Someone who talks only about themselves. A bad networking conversation? Same. Share your own stories, insights, experiences and interests. Find common ground, build rapport. On our first date, I asked my husband where he wanted to travel next. He said, “the Amalfi Coast.” As fate would have it, I was slated to host a University of Michigan Alumni trip there later that spring. That sparked a deeper conversation about the kind of experiences we value. 𝟯. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 A great date–and a great networking conversation–ends with both people wanting to stay in touch. Offer something meaningful—an interesting article, a relevant connection, or a thoughtful follow-up message referencing something specific you discussed. My husband ended the first date with, “I like you. When can I see you again?” I wasn’t sure if he was a rookie who didn’t know how to play it cool or refreshingly confident. Turns out, it was the latter. 𝟰. 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝗽  Send a quick LinkedIn message or email within 48 hours. Reference something specific from your conversation to show you were paying attention: “It was great meeting you at the event! I loved our conversation about (specific topic). Would love to stay in touch and hear how it progresses!” My husband followed up our first date with a note—and a photo of the wine I ordered that night, sitting in his grocery cart next to some celery. (Yes, really. See the photo below.) 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴) 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 It’s not about racking up LinkedIn connections—it’s about cultivating relationships. Which brings me to the second photo. My husband’s approach to dating eventually led to an invitation to the Amalfi Coast trip. Just not on the first date, like he likes to tell it. What’s your best networking tip or funniest dating story?

You’re at a networking event. Holding a sweaty plastic cup. Wishing you were home in sweatpants. 🫠 Someone turns to you and says: “So… how was your weekend?” “Busy.” “Cool.” Cue the awkward silence. 🫣 Early in my career, I thought this was just... networking. You make small talk. Exchange business cards. Leave with a lanyard and a vague sense of regret. But small talk never helped me build trust. Or learn anything new. It just filled the air—then vanished. So I started asking better questions. Ones that *actually* sparked connection. Here are 4 questions I now use all the time (and yes, you can steal them): 📌 “What’s something you’re really proud of from the past month?” 📌 “What’s a lesson you’ve learned the hard way in your role?” 📌 “What’s something you’re excited about outside of work?” 📌 “What’s one thing that would make your week 10% better?” Small talk fills silence. But good questions build real relationships. 🙌 ♻️ If this post was helpful, repost it to your network to help others. Follow me Jenny Wood for more content to help you chase what you want, unapologetically.

I created a simple system to never talk about weather at networking events again: 🌤 ... ⛈️ ... 🌩 I used to default to weather talk at every networking event. Now I have meaningful conversations that lead to real connections. Steal my exact process: Step 1: Identify your favorite conversation topics • Pick 3-4 topics you genuinely enjoy discussing • For me: travel, food, solo biz, personal development • These become your conversation targets Step 2: Plan responses for common small talk questions • Create answers that lead to your preferred topics • Include specific details that invite follow-up questions • Always end with a question to keep conversation flowing Step 3: Practice your responses • Rehearse until they feel natural, not scripted • Adjust based on what gets the best responses • Keep refining until conversations flow easily Real examples from my networking playbook: 👋 When asked "How's business?": "I'm learning to distinguish productive busy from just busy in my solo business. Everyday is a new adventure. What about you - working on anything exciting lately?” 👋 When asked "How are you?": "Energized from traveling to this event! I love connecting face-to-face with coaches after working 20 years in corporate IT. Very different vibe! What about you, what are you working on lately? 👋 When asked "Where are you from?": "St. Louis for over 20 years now. The affordable cost of living helped me launch my solo business last year. How about you?” 👋 When asked "What do you do?": "Former IT project manager who discovered CliftonStrengths and pivoted to become a ghostwriter for coaches. It’s a wild ride! What exciting things are you working on?” TL;DR: • Identify topics you enjoy discussing • Prepare engaging responses to common questions • Practice until your responses feel natural Ten minutes of prep can transforms networking from awkward weather chat to deeper connections. Not a bad way to increase your surface area of luck (to quote my friend Pamela Wilton) ❓What's your go-to response to "So, what do you do?" Share in the comments below! ♻️ Share or repost if you find this helpful! ~ ~ ~ 😀 Hi, I’m Angeline. Content partner for coaches and certified CliftonStrengths Coach 💡 Helping CliftonStrengths® coaches turn workshop attendees into paying clients with automated follow-up emails Top 5: Relator | Arranger | Input | Learner | Responsibility #CliftonStrengths #Coaching #PersonalDevelopment #Ghostwriter #emailseries #leadgen #RecoveringOverthinker