Entrepreneurs must become experts at connecting with anyone — and with a few simple strategies, you can.
Small Talk
- Small talk is the opener for a better conversation. It’s a way to get comfortable with one another and cast around for something you want to talk about
- It’s structured in a way that naturally leads you toward common ground
Listen
- When people do start talking, you must listen, make eye contact, and generally show you’re engaged
- Two effective techniques to signal engagement are paraphrasing what people have just said and echoing
- At the deepest level of listening, you are listening for experiences, feelings, motivations, and values
Breaking the script
- “Breaking the script” means using the techniques of small talk while resisting the temptation to go on autopilot
- We use scripts to make interactions more efficient, particularly in busy, dense, fast-moving places like big cities
- But in doing so, we deny ourselves the chance at a better experience and maybe a new contact
Be careful with your questions
- Statements, not questions, can be a better way to open a conversation
- One paradox about talking to a stranger is that while curiosity is indispensable, a barrage of questions out of the gate can feel like an interview
- Even one personal question asked too early can create an uncomfortable dynamic because you’re asking something of someone
