You have no problems keeping the conversation going with your close friends and family. You might even get along well with your work colleagues.
However, when you meet somebody for the first time, it can be difficult to establish rapport with them. You don’t know anything about them and this can make it difficult to come up with an interesting conversation.
If you are a naturally anxious person, it can be even more challenging to engage with others do you have only just met. You might end up stumbling over your words or sitting there in awkward silence.
Most of us despise making small talk, but sometimes it is necessary to learn more about others and keep the conversation going. In this article, we are going to run through some of the top ways to break the ice with somebody who you have only just met.
Come Prepared
Although preparing topics to talk about with other people might feel unnatural, it can help to calm your nerves and avoid awkwardness. Take a look at icebreakerideas.com or fun facts and memorize some great ice breaking questions and topics that you can bring up during your conversation.
When you are breaking the ice, try to avoid using yes/no questions. Instead, focus on open-ended questions that enable the other person to share more about themselves.
Show Genuine Interest
When you show interest in the people that you are speaking to, they will naturally feel more comfortable around you. People are more likely to open up and continue the conversation with you when they feel that you are genuinely curious about their lives.
People love to talk about themselves, so ask questions and listen carefully. If they mention something specific that you love to learn more about, ask them to expand on what they mean.
Share Your Own Experiences
Conversation is a two-way street. Don’t just let the other person talk about themselves. Be sure to share your own thoughts and opinions.
Sharing your own experiences will help you to build a rapport with the other person. They can learn more about you and your views.
By openly conversing with others, you can discover with whom we share the same interests and passions. You can bond over similar experiences or funny stories about things that you both love.
Ask About Family and Occupation
People’s families are important to them. Most people will happily talk about their kids or their partner for hours if you let them.
Spark up the family-based conversation by asking someone about who they live with or what their kids’ names are. A simple question like this will undoubtedly lead to even more interesting conversation.
You can also ask the other person about their occupation. Again, most people love talking about what they do for work and there are so many questions that you can ask surrounding someone’s occupation.
For example, you can ask questions such as:
- Do you enjoy your current job?
- Do you want to progress in your current career?
- What kind of things do you do at work on a daily basis?
Photo by Alex Green from Pexels
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