E-learning course module: Strategies on how to get better at small talk

1. 9. Know that other people feel weird

1.1. What does it mean to know that other people feel weird?

1.2. What this means is that we all have come across a time in our lives when we have felt shy, scared, or uncertain. It is okay to feel shy or uncertain sometimes. It will happen, but just remember that you are not alone.

1.3. Here is an example of people overcoming shyness : https://youtu.be/2yRVP9PHnEE

2. 8. Ask, " what's keeping you busy these days"

2.1. So why do we need to ask this question?

2.1.1. Project specifications

2.1.2. End User requirements

2.1.3. Action points sign-off

2.2. Because it gives the opportunity to choose what they want to focus on such as family, a new hobby, or a new life change.

2.2.1. Here is an example of choosing what to focus on:https://youtu.be/u4tWu871odw

3. 6. Copy a good conversationalist

3.1. How do we copy a good conversationalist?

3.2. One way to do this is to try to remember some of the questions they may of asked, how they followed up on answers and remember what they did when they had a silent moment.

3.3. Here is an example of a good conversationalist:https://youtu.be/uiHoIobp5ZI

4. 5. Be Honest

5. So what does it mean to be honest in your conversation? It means that it really is alright to let your partner know that you don't like small talk. Ask them how their life style is.

6. Here is an example of an how to have a honest conversation: https://youtu.be/ug9G-rsEoIc

7. 7. Boost your conversation partner's self-esteem. So

8. So how can we boost our partner's self-esteem? We can try letting them know that we enjoyed getting to know them. Try saying things to them that will lift them up and help them feel better about their self.

8.1. Here is an example of boosting self-esteem:https://youtu.be/zq-fSpFhNYw

9. Here is an example of people teaching other people: https://youtu.be/13r0by_uX4Q

9.1. KPI's

10. Here is an example of what it means to have an engaging conversation: https://youtu.be/Melen3EKmCk

10.1. Included

10.2. Included

10.3. Excluded

11. 1. Be engaged with your partner

11.1. So what does this mean to be engaged in a conversation? This means that you must demonstrated that you are interested in conversing with your partner. You must be able to show that you are interested in what they have to say. Every one wants to be listened to.

12. 2. Ask open ended questions

12.1. What are open ended questions? They are questions that require a response and allows for more conversation of a subject or topic matter.

12.1.1. Materials

12.1.2. Personel

12.1.3. Services

12.1.4. Duration

12.2. Here is an example of how to ask open ended questions: https://youtu.be/LeKOH_vMvjA

13. 3. Allow your conversation partner to teach you something

13.1. Okay, so what does this mean?

13.1.1. Dependencies

13.1.2. Milestones

13.2. When we allow other people to teach us something, we are really saying that we want the opportunity to learn something from them.

13.2.1. Schedule

13.2.2. Budget

14. 4. Read the news paper

15. So how can reading the news paper help you to become better at small talk? well..if you have ever an abrupt halt in your conversation you are not alone. Reading the news paper will help you to fill those silent moments and come up with a different topic. You could ask questions such as " have you heard of or I just read the other day about such and such.

16. Here is an example of how to fill those silent moments in your conversations: https://youtu.be/vIzmHLzLFaU