Tips for Using Small Talk in Professional Networking

Recently, I've found myself at a lot of dinners, conventions, and various meetings, and have realized my ability to engage in small talk enhances my networking and relationships. Whether you're a conversationalist by nature or more of an introvert, here's some small-talk strategy that works for me, that might just work for you, too : 1. Find Common Ground Quickly   This is always my go-to. I always look for quick giveaways in the environment or in their attire to start a conversation.   For example, if I have a meeting with someone and they show up with a Dodgers hat on, I'll almost immediately lead with something about the Dodgers (or baseball in general) to kick things off. 2. Use Observational Comments   When there are no obvious giveaways in attire, accent, etc., I usually resort to talking about my surroundings or the event. Something like, "This venue has a great layout for conventions. What do you think?" can quickly snowball into a pleasant conversation and a new connection. 3. Share a Little About Yourself.    Sometimes sharing a bit about your interests can transform into a deeper conversation. You might think, "Well, nobody asked..." but more often than not, people will appreciate your willingness to spark a conversation. My go-to is to talk about whatever book I'm reading at that time. 4. Listen Actively. Show genuine interest in their responses by asking follow-up questions based on their answers. If they mention a hobby, ask how they got started or what it's like to show curiosity and open-mindedness. 5. Avoid Controversial Topics This should go without saying, but avoid topics like politics or religion unless you know the audience well (really, really well). 6. Be Mindful of Body Language.   Non-verbal cues can show if someone is engaged or looking to exit the conversation. Don't appear distracted by looking around the room or at your phone. Make eye contact, sit up or stand up straight, and make sure to smile. Remember, the goal of networking is to build relationships, not just chat. Your strategy of asking action-oriented questions is a great way to make conversations more meaningful. #networking #success #network

🤦♂️ Hate answering the same questions over and over? Me too. Here’s how you can avoid soul-sucking small talk at conferences and events: 1. Avoid "Auto-Pilot" Questions 👨✈️ There’s a world of difference between asking someone “How was your work week?” versus asking “What was the highlight of your work week?” The former question puts the other person on autopilot, eliciting a bland response like, “It was fine.” The latter question catches people off-guard in a positive way. They think. They smile. They remember that amidst their hectic and stressful week, a customer gave them a kind word or a genuine thank you. An otherwise forgotten moment is remembered and appreciated. 2. Prepare a List of Go-To Questions 🗒 A question that is 20 percent better can often yield an answer that is 200 percent better. Consider which questions usually open up rich conversational doors for you. Your questions don't even have to be deeply personal. They can just be simple segues to learning more about the other person. Here are a few of my favorites: *What’s your favorite book? *Where are you hoping to travel next? *What’s something you’ve learned about yourself recently? 3. Ladder Up to Vulnerability 👣 It can feel awkward to dive in and ask something unexpected. The key is to gradually ladder your way up to vulnerability. You can do this in two ways: 1) Asking gradually more personal questions 2) Answering the other person’s questions with more openness and candor than they'd generally expect Let’s say you meet someone new at the Transform Conference. She asks you how work is going: a simple question that generally yields a blasé response. But you decide to give her a real answer: “You know, honestly it’s been a bit rough. I had a big sales call with an important prospect, and I botched the call. I don’t think we’ll sign them now, and I keep second-guessing what I should have done differently on the call.” At this point, you’ll find out whether she wants to have a real conversation. She’ll either tap out and find a new chit-chat buddy or she’ll ask more questions and truly engage. You may gain a new friend. Vulnerability yields vulnerability. Openness leads to openness. Once you’ve shared an authentic answer with someone, you’ve established that they can also share something authentic with you. And now you’re having a real conversation. What are your favorite conversational tips? I'd love to hear them! 😃

Small talk is SUPPOSED to be awkward. That was a realization that I had last week as I was talking to someone about their fears around networking. They had said something that I’ve heard a version of over and over, “I don’t like to go to networking events around town because it's just going to be a bunch of small talk and it’s always so awkward.” But here’s the deal: Small talk is what we call that initial chitchat when we first meet a new person. That chitchat is calibrating you with a new human being that you’ve never met before! It would be silly to think that it shouldn’t be a bit uncertain and stilted. ▶ The real key that the experts know: Embrace the awkwardness and move through it as quickly as possible. It’s not about avoiding the weirdness (I still feel a bit uncomfortable meeting new people). Instead, try to engage meaningfully to move this budding relationship along. One of the methods I talk about in Networking in the 21st Century is using questions. Get the other person talking about something other than the weather. For example. Ask them… 🔔 How did you find out about the event? 🔔 Have you been to this before? 🔔 What goal brought you out today (to deal with all this small talk)? There are many others you can use. But the key is to dig a little deeper than a conversation about the appetizers. So whether it’s a trade show floor, an industry conference, or a networking breakfast, don’t let awkwardness stop you. Just smile and make a little small talk. And then eventually your talk can get bigger! #networking #networkingworks #conversation #smalltalk Heather H. Bennett Carolyn Andy Crestodina Mark J. Carter Erich Kurschat Brian Hall Frank Laterza Julie Yusim Tom Latourette Megan Knee