Start a conversation now

Swati Rai

There is enough literature on why deep, long and meaningful conversations are a sound base for long- lasting professional and personal relationships. There is, however, a place reserved for small talk, chit-chat and conversations made with the explicit purpose to build a professional relation. Especially at a time when there’s a blink-and-miss chance of casting a favourable impression, hitting the nail on the head is crucial. Here are some tips, tricks and techniques to ace the skilful use of language for positive networking:

Take the lead 

How often does this happen that you contemplate reaching out to someone to say a ‘hello’ when someone else  barges in and steals your ice-breaking moment? Plenty, I am guessing. It’s going to recur, if you don’t jump into introducing yourself and extending a hand to start a conversation at a networking meet. 

It is for you to take the lead and jump headlong into the getting-to-know ritual. Many a times we don’t feel the need to, well those times are surely gone. Surely, there will be initial awkward moments, but the sooner you tide over imagined embarrassment, the better it will be for your career. Mingling at an event, conference or do, is a part of professional confidence and the more you remain within your clique or your own self, the more will be the chances of you coming across as rude, unprofessional and under confident. 

Big no to faux pas 

Extending a business card right after the first sentence is best avoided. Sure, the intent is to slip it to the listener, but there is no surreptitious or in-your-face, way of doing it. It is natural to expect this exchange, so no need to hide the intent. 

The need to communicate should be a primary concern here. Also, paying heed to positive body language, appropriate eye contact, intonation of the voice reflecting varied emotions, is also a must-check here. 

Reading the signs of ‘not-interested’vibes from the one being addressed, exiting the conversation gracefully  after rounding it off and interrupting a conversation  are also skills that are essential here. “Catch you later”, “Let’s meet once we get back”, “Shall call you once in office”; are great ways to give shape to a smooth exit, with a promise to converting networking into a more meaningful process. 

With virtual networking spilling over to offline events and organised meet ups, this is a skill worth possessing. Of course the premium placed on this aspect of work depends on the nature and the demands of the job. Also,  just by conversing well, the job may not be done, but without doing it well, it may just be half done! 

Go-to conversation topics and starters

Know that it doesn’t come naturally to even the most glib talkers to approach strangers and break into a conversation. Looking for common interests, asking about the event that one is attending, generic aims, and goals around one’s career are the topics that are easy to crack. 

Looking for things and happenings that could generate a chat are also worth looking at. For instance, an interesting clock, piece of art or arrangement at the venue, could well be a great source of initial engagement. Of course genuine inflection in the voice and interest in talking helps. “So, what brings you here?”, “A great event, eh?”, “We haven’t met, now have we? I am..”, “What a lovely venue. This is my first time here. How about you?”; are some quick and sure shot ways of breaking the ice. 

When in doubt, stick to familiar topics of work, area of operation, future plans. Developing a conversation from a scratch by asking open-ended questions is also a part of the initial talk and relationship building.