Coaching Information

3 Keys to Making Small Talk Easy to Do


Small talk used to be really hard work for me. I never knew what to say and I always worried about saying the wrong thing.

Then something awful happened to me....

I had to take a job dealing with the public. My worst fears came true and I had to make small talk with a whole range of people each and every day.

I found it difficult, tedious and nerve wracking.

Eventually after a lot of trial and error I got the hang of it. And today I find it easy to do and even enjoyable.

You can do the same when you learn a few key distinctions:

1. Understand that the purpose of small talk is not to exchange information.

It is a game you play to find things you have in common with the other person.

Decide to be intensely curious about the other person and go fishing for what you have in common. When you are genuinely interested in other people they will respond positively to your questions and to the way you listen to what they have to say.

When you take the pressure off yourself to be a great conversationalist and become a detective searching for commonality the conversation tends to take care of itself.

Why?

Because people like people that are like them.

The more commonality you discover, the more the other person will like you and feel as if they have known you for some time.

This in turn causes the conversation to flow.

2. Give first to encourage sharing.

If all you do is ask questions the other person will feel as if they are being interrogated.

That is not the idea!

Be prepared to reveal something about yourself first without getting too personal.

By sharing first you are leading the way and cause the other person to feel obligated to return the favor.

Sharing and receiving in this way allows you to take charge of any conversation and to easily lead it where you want to go.

3. Aim to control the conversation.

If you can lead a conversation you can control it. You now know how to lead any conversation - give first and watch the other person respond.

Most people will follow your lead right away. If the person does not just move on to someone else.

Never shoot for 100% with people as its not a realistic goal. Life does not work like that.

And remember...

The key to success with these distinctions is to use them, play with them and then adjust them to suit you.

For the sake of 10-15 minutes a day, every day, you can progressively get better and better at making conversation.

Its not rocket science. Its just a matter of strategy - knowing it and using it.

About The Author

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm


MORE RESOURCES:

Los Angeles Times

Pete Carroll's coaching tree may keep branching
Los Angeles Times, CA - 5 hours ago
It comes as no surprise that Steve Sarkisian would take over as a head coach somewhere, and after almost eight seasons at USC it seems the Pete Carroll ...
Coaching 'carousel' heats up Daily Press
Coaching change often produces immediate results The Olympian
Huskies go with youth, pick USC's Sarkisian Seattle Times
Examiner.com - FOXSports.com
all 283 news articles


DawgsBite.com

Jacobs Talks Recruiting and Coaching Search
DawgsBite.com - 5 hours ago
Athletic Director Jay Jacobs is trying to put an interim plan together for recruiting while Auburn finds a new head football coach to replace Tommy ...
Money won't hinder Tigers' coaching search Anniston Star (subscription)
AD expounds on coaching situation Opelika Auburn News
Tuberville is latest coaching victim of ruthless SEC FOXSports.com
The Birmingham News - al.com - al.com
all 1,061 news articles


Washington Post

Penguins Notebook: Carolina's Francis trying his hand at coaching
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - 8 hours ago
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette RALEIGH, NC -- A lot of people who know Ron Francis insist he never showed any interest in coaching. ...
Hurricanes' plan: Regain strength through circular coaching rotation SportingNews.com
Eric Staal: Could Benefit From Coaching Change Rotowire
Hurricanes seek spark with coaching change Washington Business Journal
WRAL.com - Burlington Times News
all 794 news articles


The Money Times

Andersen takes Utah State coaching job
The Associated Press - 17 hours ago
LOGAN, Utah (AP) — Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen is leaving Utah to become the football coach at Utah State. Utah State introduced Andersen on ...
Anderson, USU in talks over coaching spot Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Utes football: Andersen's status for bowl unknown Deseret News
Andersen takes Utah State coaching job SportingNews.com
KSL-TV - The Associated Press
all 188 news articles


Bleacher Report

Husky coaching search getting confusing
Examiner.com - 21 hours ago
by John Berkowitz, Washington Huskies Examiner Things started to get a bit fuzzy yesterday in the Husky football coaching search. It started off yesterday ...
Williams: Coaching crisis opportunity for new university President RedRaiders.com
Texas College Capsules: Tech's Leach removes name from Washington ... Brownsville Herald
Huskies Coaching Search | Texas Tech coach Mike Leach meets with UW Seattle Times
Houston Chronicle - BamaMag.com
all 467 news articles


News Channel 7

Movement throughout coaching profession, but not at LSU
Shreveport Times, LA - 6 hours ago
By Glenn Guilbeau • gguilbeau@gannett.com • December 5, 2008 2:00 am BATON ROUGE — LSU football coach Les Miles has likely not moved fast enough to hire two ...
Swinney hires coach, administrator The State
In Dabo We Trust? Yeah, I Think So! FanIQ
Three Coaches Contacted Clemson Tigers Insider
Daily Journal - San Francisco Chronicle
all 253 news articles


Successful season leads to coaching rumors
Detroit Free Press, United States - 4 hours ago
With the Mid-American Conference experiencing a coaching turnover of epic proportions, several Spartan coaches have been linked as possible candidates for ...


Third base coaching job goes to Hines
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 16 hours ago
Bruce Hines, who has spent much of his career in the minor leagues as a coach and manager, is the new Seattle third base coach. ...
Hines named third-base coach MLB.com
Mariners hire longtime A's Angels minor-league coach Seattle Times
Mariners tab Hines as third-base coach MLB.com
Seattle Post Intelligencer
all 21 news articles


Coaching absences overshadow top talent
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 10 hours ago
Young coach Tyrone Slaughter and Von Steuben coach Vince Carter are suspended for the first six games of the season. And Marshall coach Courtney Hargrays’ ...


Bleacher Report

NBA Coaching Carousel: The Next NBA Coaching Crop
Bleacher Report, CA - 4 hours ago
Sometimes firing a coach is perfectly justified, as in the case of Oklahoma City canning PJ Carlesimo. It was clear that Carlesimo’s brusque personality was ...
Coaching in Toronto a matter of insecurity Toronto Star
Raptors make coaching change St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Howie Triano set to watch son make NBA history Canada.com
National Post - NBA.com
all 542 news articles

Coaching - Google News

home | site map
© 2008