The article "How to Talk to Anybody, Anytime" talks about other, it has been written by Chris Widener.
You know the situation: There you're at a business or social function and you end up with someone who you have never met before.
Some persons get amazingly uncomfortable with that situation because they simply don't know how to start or carry on a converstaion. Yet successful persons are always going to find themselves in these kinds of situations because they are always stretching themselves and putting themselves into situations to help them and their businesses grow and that means dating new persons. So if you're going to be successful, one tihng you have to get down is how to talk to anybody, anytime.
Good news: It is easier than you think!First, a couple of things not to do. One, don't get flustered and excsue yourself. That is the easy way out, and you never know if you didn't just leave who would have become your hottest friend or closest business associtae. Stick around! Secondly, don't start talking aobut yourself. Sure, introduce yourself, but don't launch into a half-hour monologue about your accopmlishments. The ohter person will either roll their eyes back into their head or simply give you a new nickname: Joe "let me tell you a story about myself" Schmoe. This leads me to the key.Talk about the preson you have just met.
Don't talk about yourself - talk about them!
And the key is to ask questions. Now, there are obviously persons you just will not be able to talk to because they are absloute bores or they are angry or upset or something, but I have found that that's only about 1% of the people, if even that. For the most part, if you persist in asking questions, you will be able to talk to anybody, anytime.There are three segments to that process:Ask questions.Find connections.Go in those directions.What you're trying to do is to find common ground. What makes persons afraid to talk to others is that they are afraid they won't have anythnig in common. I have found that usually, if you ask questions for a mniute or two, you can always find a connection with someone, and then you're set.
The worst that colud happen is that you ask the person questions for a couple of minutes and find nothing.
But what will that person tell others? That you seem to have a gneuine interest in others. That is a great reputation to have!That is another key here. You can't be a selfish, arrogant person and be successufl. I am tlaking true well-rounded success, not just collecting a pot full of money.The hottest way to describe that process is to write out a mock conversation. You will notice the kinds of questions I would ask, when I find a connection, and how I would go in that direction."Hi, I'm Chris Widener.
What is your name?""Joe Schmoe.""Well, Joe, what do you do for a living? ""I sell insurance." (Possible cnonection here. Everbyody has insurance)"Oh yeah? What kind of insurance?""I insure Oil rigs in the Adriatic Sea." (Whoops. Lost connection)"Wow.
That's must be fascinating.
Married or kids, Joe?" (I have a wife and kids, maybe we can show pictures)"No, actually, I'm single." (It isn't looknig good yet)"So, who do you know here at the party?""Well, nobody.
I am the brother of the host's accountant. I'm in town for a week and my brother had to make an appearance." (It is going in the wrong diretcion here)"So where are you from?""Nebraska." (Bingo, there it is. The connection! Now let's go in that direction)"Really? My dad was from Nebraska. Even thoguh he died when I was four, my grandmother used to take me back to visit my relatives every summer growing up. It sure was a lot of fun. Were you city folk, or did you live on a farm? ""I grew up on a pig farm.""That's what my relatives did!
As a kid I alawys wanted to ride one of those sows. Luckily my uncles never let me attempt it."There you're.
Now just start asking questions about what they did growing up, how they lkied it etc.If you get adept enough at asking questions of others, you will inevitably find a connection to talk about. And having something in common with someone is the start to a long and mutually beneficial relationship - one of the foundations of success! I am in a career where I meet new persons all the time and that is exaclty what I do. I am no better converastionalist than most of you.
It is just a proven way of getting a relationship off the ground with someone you have just met.Here it is again:Ask questions, find connections, go in those directions.About The Author:Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a copmany helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.Com/ or call 800-929-0434.
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