Other Added - Effortless Networking: Conversations - the heart of networking

How confident and comfortable are you, engaging people in conversation?

Many people have asked me recently about how to initiate and engage in conversation. In fact, over the past year, this has been one of the most popular questions!

Here are some of the ways it shows up:

• How to open the conversation
• How to break the ice
• Knowing what to say
• How to cut into a conversation
• How to find out what people want to hear from me or what questions I should ask them
• Getting to know people
• Finding the confidence to initiate a conversation

Sound familiar?

Since it seems to be a common concern and question for many people, here's a short but powerful exercise for those who are really serious about tackling this question.

This exercise may seem easy or even superficial, but it's not.

The questions I'm asking here are not trivial -- the more thought and effort you put into doing this exercise, the more you will get out of it.

So here it is:

PART 1: Gather "data"

For the next 7 days, keep an eye out for the following situations each day:

• When during the day did you initiate a conversation with a "stranger" (i.e. someone you didn't know)?
• What was the situation or context? For instance, were you in the grocery store, the train station, an airplane, etc.?
• What led you to initiate the conversation? For instance, did you need information (e.g. directions), were you curious about something, did you have information you wanted to offer the other person, etc.?
• How did this feel conversation for you? (E.g. comfortable, awkward, neutral, etc.) Why is this?

Jot down what you notice at the end of each day, so you can remember it. Tips for Organizational Stress Management
These suggestions came from a survey conducted regarding what has been useful for various businesses and organizations. Pick ones that you would use for your organization and use them. If you require coaching or training for the implementation, contact us for professional support.1. Focus groups…discussion of issues and solutions2. Survey employees regarding issues andhe conversation

Sound familiar?

Since it seems to be a common concern and question for many people, here's a short but powerful exercise for those who are really serious about tackling this question.

This exercise may seem easy or even superficial, but it's not.

The questions I'm asking here are not trivial -- the more thought and effort you put into doing this exercise, the more you will get out of it.

So here it is:

PART 1: Gather "data"

For the next 7 days, keep an eye out for the following situations each day:

• When during the day did you initiate a conversation with a "stranger" (i.e. someone you didn't know)?
• What was the situation or context? For instance, were you in the grocery store, the train station, an airplane, etc.?
• What led you to initiate the conversation? For instance, did you need information (e.g. directions), were you curious about something, did you have information you wanted to offer the other person, etc.?
• How did this feel conversation for you? (E.g. comfortable, awkward, neutral, etc.) Why is this?

Jot down what you notice at the end of each day, so you can remember it. 5 Reasons Why Your Potential Customers/Clients Are Just Not That Into You
What gives? You have a stunning website with an audio intro and newsletter sign-up, but no one is buying from you. Maybe you’re wasting your time on the wrong target market or maybe you are sending the wrong message to your potential customers/clients.1. You give it up too soon and too often.Do you give away samples, freebies and more? Well, I hate to break it to you, Since it seems to be a common concern and question for many people, here's a short but powerful exercise for those who are really serious about tackling this question.

This exercise may seem easy or even superficial, but it's not.

The questions I'm asking here are not trivial -- the more thought and effort you put into doing this exercise, the more you will get out of it.

So here it is:

PART 1: Gather "data"

For the next 7 days, keep an eye out for the following situations each day:

• When during the day did you initiate a conversation with a "stranger" (i.e. someone you didn't know)?
• What was the situation or context? For instance, were you in the grocery store, the train station, an airplane, etc.?
• What led you to initiate the conversation? For instance, did you need information (e.g. directions), were you curious about something, did you have information you wanted to offer the other person, etc.?
• How did this feel conversation for you? (E.g. comfortable, awkward, neutral, etc.) Why is this?

Jot down what you notice at the end of each day, so you can remember it. Are We Reaching Our Full Potential?
Most people reach the end of their lives never reaching their full potential. There are several reasons that people don't reach their full potential in their career and the relationships they have in their lives.Too many people settle for the status quo. People that don't go to college or a school of trade feel that they can not be more than the average $10 - $12 an hour job.>

So here it is:

PART 1: Gather "data"

For the next 7 days, keep an eye out for the following situations each day:

• When during the day did you initiate a conversation with a "stranger" (i.e. someone you didn't know)?
• What was the situation or context? For instance, were you in the grocery store, the train station, an airplane, etc.?
• What led you to initiate the conversation? For instance, did you need information (e.g. directions), were you curious about something, did you have information you wanted to offer the other person, etc.?
• How did this feel conversation for you? (E.g. comfortable, awkward, neutral, etc.) Why is this?

Jot down what you notice at the end of each day, so you can remember it. Consolidated Freight 1929-2002
There was a lot news on the Bankruptcy of Consolidated Freight, which rocked the transportation industry, but what most failed to realize is that CF was founded in 1929 and this nation lost a great company.http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/85350_consolidated03.shtmlOne of their largest customers was The Boeing Company. With Consolidated Freights help we were ableWhat led you to initiate the conversation? For instance, did you need information (e.g. directions), were you curious about something, did you have information you wanted to offer the other person, etc.?

Jot down what you notice at the end of each day, so you can remember it.

PART 2: Look at your "data"

At the end of the week, look through your notes:

• What patterns do you notice about when and how you initiate conversations?
• What allows you to initiate conversations?
• What specifically makes you to feel comfortable or uncomfortable in such conversations?
• How are these situations similar or different from business networking conversations?

PART 3: Action Plan

Now use this information to your advantage.

• What did you learn about yourself and how you engage in conversations with "strangers", from doing this exercise?
• How will you use this information in the context of business networking?

As I said, it can be a very powerful tool for you, if you do actually do this exercise.

So if this topic is of importance to you, invest the time to do this seriously. I guarantee you will see improvements in your ability to converse with people. Good luck!

HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.otheradded.com/article/32007/otheradded-Effortless-Networking-Conversations--the-heart-of-networking.html">Effortless Networking: Conversations - the heart of networking</a>

BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.otheradded.com/article/32007/otheradded-Effortless-Networking-Conversations--the-heart-of-networking.html]Effortless Networking: Conversations - the heart of networking[/url]

Related Articles:

Why Do We Work?

Have you ever wondered just why we work so hard in our life? All that getting up in the mornings and travelling to work through dirt, grime and congestion. We spend a third of our lives working or getting to work and another third sleeping. When you add in the chores, household duties and the downtime, there isn’t much left.

Work From Home - Telecommute and Make Money

Telecommuting jobs are great opportunities to make money working from home. There are however, a great many scams that claim you will earn a lot of money in a very short period of time. Many of these so-called opportunities are designed to take your money, for which you will receive nothing or instructions as to how to place an add identical to the one you responded to and charge a fee to pass on the same instructions.

Six Money Making Ideas

A selection of money making ideas that haven't yet been tried. Be the first to do it.

Bookmark it: