In today's tech-driven world far too many of us have forgotten the basics of being able to strike up a decent conversation with a "real" person. Sure we have lots of "friends" and "connections" on facebook and other social networks, but real one-on-one interaction is lacking.
Mastering the art of real life conversation will not only score you more invitations, but could lead to solid career moves. So leave that Blackberry or Iphone home and get to talking.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Check your body language and facial expressions before you introduce yourself. Exude confidence in your posture and don’t forget to smile.
2. Have some “factoids” and interesting tidbits to strike up a conversation. For example, “Lindsey Lohan may surprise us one day. Or “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where my next travel destination will be.” People are generally more inclined to engage in conversations about general topics that they may be able to relate to.
3. Make a proclamation to start a conversation. One line I have used successfully: “I decided to have a BlackBerry-free day to give my brain a techno break and get back to simple pleasures, like good face-to-face conversation.”
4. Always consider the other person by talking in “digestible bits” rather than in long and rambling sentences. In the words of Milton Wright, author of the 1936 classic The Art of Conversation, “a monologue is not a conversation.”
5. Steer away from hot button topics like religion and politics unless you can communicate a very centrist position.
6. If the conversation was a good one, offer to follow up with the person via Facebook or LinkedIn. Try to get together within a month for breakfast or lunch. Save cocktail dates (where you can let down your guard) for friends, spouses, and significant others.