For this blog I wanted to talk about chatting with someone in a public setting. In my video, I am in a café having lunch. I share my, albeit brief, interaction with my waitress, Joanna. She was sweet and kind. I enjoy meeting people and you never know what will come out of it. I have had great luck in restaurants when I am friendly to the wait staff as I may get an extra portion of something. Here are some pointers.
- Smile and look at someone. It can be just that simple to engage with another person. Did you know that just the simple act of smiling makes you feel happier? It’s true. Give it a try.
- Say hello. Once you practice doing that, add, “How are you?” For some people, it takes more practice than others but it gets easier over time.
- If you can use humor, do so. Make sure that you are always laughing with someone, not at someone. I give an example of this in my video.
- Compliment someone. Make sure you are sincere with them and it is a great way to get a conversation going. Today, I liked a woman’s sandals in line in front of me at the Post Office and we had a nice chat.
- Talking about the weather is a safe conversation topic. In Rochester, NY there is always a lively conversation about the weather. Avoid topics like religion and politics as this can go in a negative direction. Keep it light and friendly, not confrontational.
Practice makes perfect. Take a deep breath and go for it!
#smalltalk #professionalcommunication #communication
Uplifted Attitude 