business clique team skills . This helps to enable you be the success you want to be as an entrepreneur and improve your personal relationships . If you want to get your message across about your product or service , if you want to build those vital business relationships , you need to add good conversation skills to your business strategies .
business clique team skills . This helps to enable you be the success you want to be as an entrepreneur and improve your personal relationships . If you want to get your message across about your product or service , if you want to build those vital business relationships , you need to add good conversation skills to your business strategies .
The next time you are facing the daunting task of having a conversation think about these tips :
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Remember if you are feeling unsure on how to start a conversation then it is very likely that the other person is having a similar problem . You are not alone .
Introduce yourself and ask
2 . questions . Simply say Hi and then ask a question .
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Ask a question : prepare some topics . This is the time for that important small talk . The talk may be around the event , about the speakers , about their business , about them or even about the weather .
Use open questions where possible . If you use a closed question or are asked a closed question be prepared to expand on the answer . Open questions allow others to talk – you talk less . They show you are interested in them and it gives you more information to continue the conversation .
Most importantly listen . The key to the art of conversation is not in the talking , but in the listening .
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The conversation has patterns : speaking , switching and listening . Take your turn . A conversation is a group project , with each person weaving in their contribution here and there . It ’ s no time for monologues . If you notice that you have talked for a few minutes without any questions , comments , or general signs of life from other people , you are monopolising the conversation – give someone else a chance to speak .
If you want the other person to feel comfortable you need to send them positive messages – and not just verbally . Your face needs to reflect your interest in talking to this person - smiling indicates liking and an absence of threat – and looking into the other ’ s eyes shows you are genuinely interested ; but be sensitive to cultural differences .
Supportive gestures like nodding when the other is speaking will demonstrate that you are listening and encourage their continued participation . When it is your turn to speak make sure that you speak clearly and slightly slower than normal . Nerves often make our voice shrill and our speech too fast .
Finish the conversation . Knowing how to end the conversation is a great skill to learn . Start by edging and turning very slightly away from the person . Break eye contact deliberately ; if you have been called look to that person , if it is getting late look towards the
AUTHOR
door , if you just need to get away look to someone else . Follow this with holding out your hand for a final handshake and deliver your message .
Enjoy your conversation – practice your small talk . When you remember that conversations and small talk are the start of building relations in your business , you realise that small talk does matter . Conversations matter – make them count
TRISH SPRINGSTEEN
BBus ( Health Admin ) JP ( Qual ) Multi International Award Winning Speaker Mentor Coach , International Best Selling Author , Radio Host , TRISCHEL - the Innovative Training Company , Communication , Public Speaking
www . trischel . com . au
Women ’ s Network Magazine
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