Good Conversation Starters

Good conversation starters put people at ease immediately. That's how all good conversations start - when people feel comfortable and relaxed.To start a conversation like that is a skill - and you can learn it.

Starting a conversation is often the most difficult part of all.Once you're over the firt few sentences, the talk usually flows. But how can you get the conversation started?

Ideally, find a subject that interests the person you're
talking to.That means they'll want to reply to you and it'll
get the conversation flowing. Questions are good for that,
so long as you don't sound like you're an interrogator.

Open questions are good conversation starters as they can't
be answered just with a 'yes' or 'no'. Or you can make a
comment. Ifd you get the comment right, it will get you a
good response.

Instead of your starter for ten, here are ten conversation
starters:

1. Compliment them on their clothing or appearance. Everyone
likes to be admired. Also, when they tell you where they got
an item of clothing or that they just had their hair cut,
that gives you something else you can talk about and away
you go! Ask then why they like the store they got the
lothing you admired, and where else they like to shop. It
might even get you a futher meeting to go shopping with
them.

2. Ask their opinion on something light like what they think
to the wine the two of you are drinking, etc. It will feel
like you're interested in them, but won't feel like you're
judging them. For that reason, steer clear of loaded topics
like religion and politics.

If you find they have a favourite topic - ask them lots of
questions about it. People love to talk - preferably about
themselves! If you give them a chance to do that, you'll
have quite an easy time of it - and still be seen as a great
conversationalist.

3. Find out the person's name - and use it. Use it early on
and use it often. You'll be viewed as caring and thoughtful.

4. Start with the obvious. What strikes you as most obvious
at this minute? Questions like 'so how do you know [host]?'
are always easy and good starters.

You could also ask 'have you taken these classes before?'Yes
- I know that's a closed question, but it may well encourage
more conversation from the other person, since they're
probably interested in the classes and have an opinion on
them.

If you're in a home, comment on a picture or an ornament -
all you're trying to do is break the ice and make sure the
silence ends. After that, it gets easier.

5. If you've met the person before, but you aren't quite sure
what to say to them now, you could always ask what they did
at the weekend. Even if they say they didn't do much, that
can lead you into sympathizing about the horrible weather
that kept you in, or small talk about the TV.

6. If there's a big news story around at the moment, ask if
they caught the news. If they say no, you can say something
like 'Oh, I was just wondering what happened about..."

7. Have you met the person before? Perhaos you recall them
saying that they were having a holiday or birthday. Ask how
it went.

8. Latch on to the time of year. If it's near to Christmas,
for instance, ask how it went or how their preparations are
going.

9. Have you been to [a local restaurant]? That's a good one
as most people are interested in eating.

10. What kind of music to listen to? That one's particularly
easy to slip in if there is music playing where you are.

Those are ten ideas to get you started, but the key is just
to get on and say something. Make it small and make it light.
Good conversation starters are only as good as the
response they get, so make sure whatever you say it's easy
to reply to.

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