The ultimate conversation opener that produces a meaningful conversation with any stranger.
In fact, I have also checked on the internet the "200 conversation
openers for all occasions" , that to me sound perfectly artificial and
somewhat out of the real world, more adequate as a conversation turn off
than turn on.
To start a conversation I often use simple questions about the "here and now".
Asking with a smile, one of them is : "May I ask, what brought you here ?"
An overwhelming majority of people respond very enthusiastically to this
simple question, because it connects the event directly with themselves.
✅ It is not intrusive
✅ It leaves total freedom in the way to answer
✅ It is more original than " Hi, my name is ... "
✅ It usually creates a comfortable space to gauge the person before opening up the door to who we are.
Ultimately, if the conditions are right, we introduce ourselves and talk about our
job but only as an afterthought which opens another avenue for exchange.
There is much more to say on the subtle art of networking.
I do understand that not everyone enjoys networking, my purpose is to
make it enjoyable, because, business is also about being open to people.