{"id":32577,"date":"2018-01-31T10:51:12","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T07:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/?p=32577"},"modified":"2018-01-31T10:51:12","modified_gmt":"2018-01-31T07:51:12","slug":"conversation-starters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeadvancer.com\/conversation-starters\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Great Conversation Starters to Instantly Connect With Any Person"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re looking for ways to connect with someone, then look no further. There are many great conversation starters that really break the ice!<\/h2>\n

Have you ever noticed someone in the crowd that just grabbed your attention? Have you ever wished you could have an important discussion with your boss without feeling intimidating? Well, those are a few examples of cold hard barriers that need to be broken<\/strong>. Yes, I mean \u201cbreaking the ice\u201d, a typical situation that has a need for great conversation starters.<\/p>\n

People you don\u2019t know<\/h3>\n

Most of us know that listening<\/a> is the best form of having a conversation<\/strong>, but listening can only be done after a conversation is already started. With that being said, here are 8 great conversation starters to get you into the game and keep them engaged<\/strong> in the discussion. Follow me\u2026<\/p>\n

The greeting<\/h4>\n

The first and most important<\/strong> conversation starter when you meet someone for the first time is the greeting. A greeting can be casual or formal depending on the environment or situation<\/strong>. For instance, when meeting a new employer, you will want to make sure you use a formal greeting.<\/p>\n

With someone in a casual environment, you can use either form. Most of the time, sticking with formal greetings is best. Remember to smile and seem confident about the interaction. Simple enough, right? Let\u2019s move on.<\/p>\n

Ask a question<\/h4>\n

Again, depending on the environment, you will want to head in a certain direction<\/strong>. After all, you didn\u2019t start a conversation with your name just to walk away, right? If you\u2019ve just met the person, you can start with a question.<\/p>\n

Those questions<\/a> usually work and get some sort of reaction that furthers the conversation<\/strong>. Asking a question shows that you care about what they feel or think, and that\u2019s always a good thing.<\/p>\n

For example: \u201cWhat do you think of this party?\u201d<\/em>, or \u201cHaving fun?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Semi-personal inquiries<\/h4>\n

After the initial conversation starter, you still have to start a real conversation. When you feel comfortable, ask a semi-personal question. Maybe you can inquire about where they are from or what they do for a living.<\/p>\n

Those are usually pretty safe conversation starters which always lead to a huge array of topics. You can talk about yourself as well, but always try to put emphasis on the other person<\/strong>. This makes them feel important.<\/p>\n

For example: \u201cSo, where are you from?\u201d<\/em> or \u201cWhat do you like to do for fun?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

People you know<\/h3>\n

There are two basic categories<\/strong> with this one. There are people you know in passing and then there are people who you know well\u00a0but haven\u2019t seen in a long time. This will determine how you start a conversation with them.<\/p>\n

People you know in passing are usually considered acquaintances, while people who have been away a while can be good friends<\/a>. Here are a few ways to tackle these situations.<\/p>\n

Compliments<\/h4>\n

Saying something nice<\/a> to an acquaintance is a good move<\/strong>. Compliments on clothes, shoes or accessories always work well with someone that you aren\u2019t that close to but still consider a tolerable person.<\/p>\n

Conversation starters with acquaintances will not go deep and this allows for easy exit strategies in case the conversation gets uncomfortable. On the other hand, compliments can keep the discussion alive<\/strong> as it can branch out into shopping, hobbies or other related topics.<\/p>\n

For example: \u201cWow! That\u2019s a pretty cool watch, where did you get it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Deep inquiries and news<\/h4>\n

For those people you haven\u2019t seen in a while, you can get deeper<\/strong> with your inquiries because obviously, you\u2019ve known them for quite some time. You can even loosen up and be silly with your conversation starters<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Considering you have a history with these people, they will understand you much better. Offer some interesting news about your life as well. This always seems to open up the floodgates.<\/p>\n

For example: \u201cWhat have you been doing with yourself lately?\u201d<\/em> or \u201cMeet anyone <\/em>cool while you are gone?\u201d<\/em> or even offer shocking news to get things started like\u2026\u201dYou won\u2019t believe what happened at my job!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Well-known people and groups<\/h3>\n

For people you know well, conversation starters will be easy. The thing is, you\u2019ve probably exhausted all your resources with them by now.<\/p>\n

So, all you need are a few new and interesting topics<\/strong> to get things rolling. As for groups, there are many fun suggestions and questions that can strike up a conversation. Here are a few ideas.<\/p>\n

Food talk<\/h4>\n

Who doesn\u2019t love a little food talk? I know I do. There are many topics that expand on food and drinks<\/strong>. You can talk about favorites and least favorites. You can talk about the correct preparation of foods and exotic foods you wish to try.<\/p>\n

There are so many sub-topics in this area, so be creative<\/strong>. Look at these.<\/p>\n