Polished Professionals
  • Work & Style
  • Health & Beauty
  • 2022 Holiday Guide
  • Shop Social Media Posts
  • SHOP THE BOUTIQUE
  • CONTACT US
  • About M.E.L.




Polished Professionals 

Conquer The Workaday World With Style & Poise
Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Smooth Operator - Network with Ease

10/9/2017

3 Comments

 
Picture
Let's be honest -networking or party conversations with people you don't know can be tough. You feel weird in conversations and worse you can get stuck in a corner with a close talker - ACK! These are a few of my tested tips for making your conversations go as smoothly as possible.

You are at an event/party with 100 people you have never met - what do you do to make the most of networking with this crowd of strangers? These are a few tips to get the conversations flowing smoothly.
1) Plan your opening line - silence is sometimes golden but not always at a party. Have a line like "how do you know the host?" to help you break the ice. Other great openers are things that are localized like talk of sports teams, the weather, etc. Try things like "how about those Astros last night? Did you see that game?" Practice makes perfect so start talking to people you meet in grocery stores or uber drivers. It will help next time you are in a networking situation and need to break the ice.

2) Be comfortable with silence. This is an art. Some times people talk just to not hear silence. Pausing before speaking lets you listen then respond. This type of behavior will actually make people want to talk to you because you make them feel important by listening attentively to what they have to say


You have been successful in getting the conversation going but now you find yourself in an awkward conversation and looking for a way to get out? How about these ideas:

1) "Boy do I need a refill!" is a tried and true way to break away - but they could follow so be ready.

2) Saying you have to make a phone call is a better way to excuse yourself and avoid any followers.

3) Change the subject - if the path of the conversation is one you are unfamiliar with or just think is inappropriate you can help steer the conversations with probing question. People always like to talk about themselves and can be a quick way to turn a conversation around or get it going. Think of questions like Where were born and raised? Where did you go to school? What company do you work for? Those kinds of questions inevitably will help you find some common ground with folks and keep the conversation flowing.

Here is to being a smooth operator at your next networking or social event!  Any other tips to share with our readers? Please leave comments below.


These looks pictured in this post are going to be some of my fall wedding looks. I look forward to putting these smooth operator tips into practice there! Click on the pictures below to be taken to each of these items.
Picture
Picture
Picture
3 Comments
Deborah Fronza
10/9/2017 09:23:22 am

such great tips!! Thanks M.E.L!!!!!

Reply
MLK link
10/9/2017 07:20:33 pm

Great article! I have a new question that always gets an interesting response, “ What are you currently passionate about? “

Reply
@lielakurpe link
10/10/2017 12:45:35 am

If it is a business networking - good questions:
*what is your next goal
*what are your biggest struggles (and maybe you or somebody you know can help).
P.S. less talking, more listening.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    About MEL

    M.E.L. is an attorney and small business entrepreneur whose mission is to help professionals conquer the workaday world with style and poise.

    POPULAR BLOG POSTS
    4 Tips to Make Networking Easier
    WORK PRESENTATIONS WITH POISE
    Interview Like A Pro

    POPULAR YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS

    Law School Series
    Business Skills To Hone Now
    Polished Professional's Handbag Edit
    FOLLOW POLISHED PROFESSIONALS AT
    Last Minute Gift Guide

    RSS Feed


    ​Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies.

    Opt Out of Cookies
Website by ITSourcePro
  • Work & Style
  • Health & Beauty
  • 2022 Holiday Guide
  • Shop Social Media Posts
  • SHOP THE BOUTIQUE
  • CONTACT US
  • About M.E.L.