The art of striking up a conversation is often a lost art. It is one that is overlooked in today's multi digital, technology laden, sound bite sized attention spanned culture. It is a culture where more people are off into their iPod, iPhone, wifi world than ever before--so what do you do if you have forgotten how to connect?

1. Join the Crowd

Lose the iPod, headphones, laptop mentality that has you paying attention to nothing but your electronic devices

2. Tune In and Pay Attention

Listen to the crowd and if a public conversation is going on consider getting involved-if and only if you have something of value to add

3. Watch for Opportunities

If someone is giving you an opening to begin or participate in a conversation-then participate

If someone is providing the type of body language that seems to be open to conversation-then consider participating

4. Perspective

Approach each conversation as a way to connect not to NETWORK. See what the situation calls for and take it from that point

5. Comment

Sometime all it takes is a friendly comment or reference to a situation. My friend Scott Bradley said it best in his post "You Gotta Love NY Subways." Sometimes all it takes to connect with someone is a comment as simple as "You Gotta Love NY Subways" if you are riding on a NY Subway and you are tolerating a tough situation in the heat and over crowded atmosphere

Where you take a convesation depends upon how things unfold. But within the tiniest chats can blossum the most powerful networking or connections. Just give yourself a chance.

 

 

 
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: More Referrals! Client Referral Strategies
Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Northern California Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul

12 Comments on The Art of "Striking Up A Conversation": Connecting With People Means Paying Attention

Listening to people and asking questions about them will make you a better conversationalist than talking a lot

07/07/2008 06:54 PM by Russ Ravary - Michigan Homes for sale - Michigan Real estate & Mortgage info (Remerica Hometown One)

I worked as a Checker in a grocery store many years ago, and that is where I learned the art of talking to people I don't know.  At first I felt completely awkward, but like anything else, the more you practice, the better you get. 

I learned a little trick to find topics to talk about.  FORM  Family Occupation Recreation Money  Those are topics everyone likes to talk about.

07/07/2008 06:54 PM by Meridian Idaho Real Estate ~ Pam Pugmire (All Pro Realty)

this has always worked for me. .

Hi,

going home form work?

What do you do? . . .

07/07/2008 06:57 PM by Fernando Herboso Real Estate Maryland, DC and Virginia (Choice Real Estate )

continue from previous comment

Great . .

what do I do?

I help people save thousands of dollars when buying or selling real estate because of my knowledge in the local market!

smile~

07/07/2008 06:59 PM by Fernando Herboso Real Estate Maryland, DC and Virginia (Choice Real Estate )

Russ, Thanks for the feedback as you are right on the money. Listening is the art that is most often ignored!

Pam- That is a great acronym and it is very useful. The fact that in your bio you state you are a proud Idaho native is in itself a "talking point" that could work very well. You don't need my help!

dean

 

07/07/2008 06:59 PM by Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)

Dean, this is a really nice post.  Thank you for taking the time to put it out there.  It is important to remember that it is about connecting and not necessarily networking.  Great piece!

07/07/2008 07:10 PM by Mark Organek - Tempe Gilbert Mesa Chandler REALTOR (RE/MAX Alliance)

Hi Mark-Thank you your kind words are appreciated! You get it.

dean

07/07/2008 07:32 PM by Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)

Fernando- That's not quite where I was going but I can't argue with "hitting them" with knowledge. Like my best buddy used to say "It ain't braggin--if you can do it!"

dean

 

07/07/2008 07:34 PM by Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)

Listening is the key to conversation!  So many people are thinking about what they want to say next instead of listening to the person they are talking to.  If they would listen attentively to the person they are talking to, the conversation would come automatically.  I used to be guilty of that until I took a course on listening titled "How To Listn Powerfully" by Brian Battles.  Great course!

07/07/2008 09:08 PM by Gregory Lohr (Freedom Foreclosure Prevention Services)

Gregory-Thank you for reading and commenting! Yes you have it right. Listening is such a tough yet essential component to connecting. Nice tip on Brian Battles! How has it helped you?

dean

07/07/2008 11:38 PM by Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)

Dean,

 

Thanks for the link! I like what you added to this! You are so right...so many people are so tuned in to their crackpod or crackberry that it is almost like they have a huge sign on their back that says "What you lookin at?!!!"

 

 

07/08/2008 05:51 PM by Scott Bradley

Scott, As a former east coast guy 7 yr in D.C and Baltimore, I must say you understand NY. The entire "What you lookin at?" reminds me of some of my fondest memories about the Right coast. Connecting is all about sharing and how can you share when you are all by yourself in a little tech world?

No problem on the link, keep the newsletters coming as I read you nearly every chance I get from the convenience of your RSS feed to my email direct!

Please check out Scott's blog http://www.networkingeffectively.com/?p=61

dean

07/08/2008 06:20 PM by Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)

Leave a response…

Name:
Notify me of new comments:
Comment:
What does the graphic say?
 
Real Estate - Other: Dean Guadagni (Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media)
Dean Guadagni
San Rafael, CA
More about me…
Domus Consulting Group; Inner Architect Media

Office Phone: (415) 410-7524
Cell Phone: (410) 410-7524
Email Me
Best of Breed business referrals, continuously valuable tips and how to articles, intro video and descriptions of Web 2.0; Cloud Computing and the coming Web 3.0 world, eclectic events around the SF Bay Area

Links

Tags (Tag Cloud)

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog
ATOM 1.0 Feed for this blog

Find CA real estate agents and San Rafael real estate here on ActiveRain.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved