We are so happy that my husband has gone back to work for his former employer. This is a great company with a nice family atmosphere. But with that family atmosphere comes a lot more parties and gatherings. We have discovered that we are not very good at small talk and mingling with new people (we used to be - I don't know what's happened???). We aren't shy by any means, we just aren't very good at striking up random conversations. There seemed to be a lot of awkward silences at an event this past weekend. :) Any advice or "go to" topics to help keep the conversation going?
I know how you feel. A lot of the people that my husband works with are much older than me which makes for large interest gaps. The only advice I have is remember pets and kids. Everyone looooves talking about their kids.
Hi Stacy
Being in sales small talk is a biggie. This may be OCD but I have a running tab of "cocktail information" that I keep in a journal. I keep weird facts and or cool things I hear that would make great conversation starters. I glance at it to see which ones are appropriate for the anticipated meeting. Also, look at Twitter if you have an account. For example, I follow the Texas Education Agency on Twitter and they reported that the house tentatively approved full-day pre-kindergarten! I follow Mamasource on Twiter and I love it!
You can follow me at http://twitter.com/Hope_RedPlanet
H.
I was involved with Dale Carnegie courses a long time ago as a student and a graduate assistant.
One thing I learned and keep in mind is that people love to talk about themselves. So, I ask about them, their children, and anything that might seem appropriate to chat about.
My husband is in a business where we entertain often and need to chat. Most of the time, men talk shop, women talk shop, kids, themselves.
Enjoy!
If you sincerely ask people questions about themselves, they'll usually talk forever. Another mom mentioned asking about kids...not just ages but schools, hobbies, etc. A good one is always asking people how long they've lived here and where they've moved from and why they moved here, etc. Eventually after asking these questions, you'll have something in common to discuss. Look for commonalities, that's what ties people together.
Hello Stacey,
Since it's an office gathering the shop talk is bound to dominate. You could start by asking what role they have within the company. Then take that a step further by asking what their job involves, and just let the converstion flow from there. Also, how about reading up on the company (maybe even their competitors) to find ideas for topics to discuss? If all else fails movies are always a good topic. You can learn a lot from people by asking them what some of their favorite movies or books are. Good luck at your next party. I hope you find these suggestions helpful.
