Convo-Tip #5: Own a conversation starter

(Photo: Beth Rankin)

Conversations with friends, even acquaintances, are one thing. Conversations with… well, people you don’t even know, that’s another. Probably the most immediate problem in those conversations is not knowing what to say to start off.

So hey, this is what you do – serve others – so plan ahead with some conversation starters. Own at least one.

Get out a pad of paper or word processor and write out a list of ten things you might say to someone you’ve never met. Be creative – don’t stick to, “Hi, how are you?” Specifically think of things to say that would jolt someone out of normalcy.

Once you have a list of ten – yes, that might be difficult until you get going – condense it back down to three or four that you really like. From there, try them out. Which do you like when you’re actually using them?

Whittle your list down to one that you totally love. That’s your new intro… your conversation starter. Own it.

Warning: Don’t take your starter too seriously

This is especially true if you’re reusing the same starter over and over again (and I think that’s a good idea). Keep it fun. Once you use it a couple times, some of your friends’ll pick up on it when they hear you using it for other people you meet. At that point, it could start to feel stale, but you need to push through that dip and keep it exciting anyway.

That’s what owning a conversation starter is all about. Make it part of your brand, so when people hear it, they automatically think of meeting you. Make it part of your testimony. Make it interested. We love when you do that.

Serving Suggestion:

(1) Make a 10-item list.

(2) Shave it down to three or four.

(3) Try out those three or four today or over the next week. Find out which your like… which get the best response. (Hint: you can practice it on people you already know too).

(4) Decide on one you (and others) love and use it all over the place.