- Practise. Converse with everyone you encounter - cashiers, waiters, people you're in a queue with, neighbours, co-workers. Chat with people unlike yourself, from the elderly to kids to tourists.
- Read everything - cookbooks, newspapers, magazines, reviews, signs, catalogues. Everything could provide information that might turn into interesting conversations
- Immerse yourself in culture, both 'high' and 'low'. TV, music, sports, art and poetry are great sources of chat - whether you are for or against.
- Expand your horizons. Go home a new way. Try sushi. Play paintball or lawn bowling. Paint a watercolour or a house. Just try something new.
- Be a better listener. Observe stories that you hear, remember things that you see and you might get an opportunity to share needed info through making small talk.
- Test yourself - see what you have to say on a random list of topics. Golf, China, soy protein, hip-hop, shoes - the more varied your list, the better.
- The more you know, the more you know you can talk about.
* Adapted from "Make Small Talk", chapter 170 in Collins eHow "How to do just about everything in the Office", 2004
No comments:
Post a Comment