RazzWorks

Today most conversations are done through text, online, emails, and the occasional quick short phone call. The great thing is that you have the time to think of the perfect response between each communication. However when in person you can’t just communicate with short choppy words, sprinkled with a dash of emojis and emoticons.

When speaking in person, you need to think on your feet and respond immediately. Therefore it’s vital to know how to start up a better conversation in comparison to doing it on your phone or online, and also how to respond immediately in order to gain a good positive interest from the other person you are talking with. Especially when it’s the first time you two have ever met.

So we are going to go over some skills and ways to help you to have a much better conversation, one that makes your communication stronger, and more memorable. Leaving those you communicate with to have a good positive impression of you, that way they will be looking forward to communicating with you again in the near future. You only get to make a first impression once so make sure to make it a good one.

Skills That Help Make a Powerful First Impression

Anybody and everybody can learn to communicate better. All it requires is the willingness to do so. However, it does take practice and time. So the sooner you work on developing better conversation skills the sooner you will perfect them. So whatever techniques you choose to work on I suggest you start practicing them as soon as possible with friends and family that you are familiar with.

That way when the opportunity arrives you will be able to use your new skills quicker and easier without trying to think and remember what and how to do it. The great thing is that the more you practice the more it becomes a routine way for you to communicate. These are skills you will have at your disposal for the rest of your life.

Express Emotion & Body Language

One key thing to pay attention to which can help greatly with having a better conversation with someone is your body language. Pay attention to how you carry yourself. Try standing or sitting in a more open position. Try not to cross your arms too much. Look the person in the eye instead of staring off into the distance or at the floor. If you’re interested in what they are saying, lean in a little bit so you can hear them better.

Speak with emotion. Express how you feel about something with your voice, that always makes for a better conversation. For one, when you use emotion, your body tends to support how you feel with little gestures that perhaps even you are not aware of. The other reason is that using emotion will keep what you are saying from sounding flat and boring.

Think Positive, Relax, Smile

OK, so you just met this person for the first time. When trying to make a good first impression stick to positive topics that are interesting. Also for you to have a better conversation, you first have to relax. Take a deep breath if you have to, approach them, be friendly, and smile. Treat the person as though you already know them. Walk up and simply ask how are things going, or say it’s good to see you. Observe your surroundings and find something to comment on. If it’s a celebration, holiday, or festival, ask or state something about it.

The main point is to approach the person in a relaxed and friendly manner. This will create an atmosphere of you being confident and open, which helps the other person to be more relaxed as well. Simply put, if you want to be friends then be friendly, and don’t forget to smile.

Go with an easy topic that can spark interest. Talk about any hobbies you have, and inquire if they have any. Unless you really love your job, it’s generally best to leave it out of the conversation. Instead, talk about a place you visited or an exciting experience you had. Ask them if they ever traveled and if so where. Try to steer away from past relationships, instead talk about future plans and ideas that you or they are working on. Stick to positive, enjoyable subjects and steer away from those that have the potential to drag the mood down.

Speak Confidently and Clearly

When it comes to having a better conversation with somebody, focus on how you say things. As much as having something to say is important, how you say it can very often be even more important. How you present yourself, using your voice is like adding spice and seasoning to soup. It can transform it from dull, and boring to interesting, bold, to wanting more.

Pronounce your words very clearly, don’t let words merely fall out of your mouth like a child mumbling. Be confident and clear. Sit up straight or stand up straight if you must. Speak up, and make sure they can hear you, especially if there happens to be alot of other sounds, noise, or other people speaking in the background.

Of course, speak clearly however, also consider slowing down. Sometimes when a person is nervous they will talk too fast. Make a point to slow down so the other person can catch what you are saying. There is another advantage to slowing down. If you slow down and pause for a brief moment between points you can create suspense so they want to hear more.

Allow it to Flow Back and Forth

When it comes to good communication, other people want to share something as well. What you need to keep in mind is when a subject or topic is being covered that you enjoy, is to make sure not to steal the floor by interrupting others just so you can be the one speaking. Remember you are trying to make a good impression, not be the center of attention. Share the floor by letting them speak and listening to what they have to say. There will be plenty of time to share your story when they are done.

Also, make sure to allow the conversation to flow. Don’t get hung up on little details. Most often a person is just sharing thoughts, ideas, and experiences they have had. Communication should never be a competition, so you don’t need to be the final word on any subject. People are not all that impressed with a person who always has the final thought on a topic. Better conversations are the ones where they flow back and forth with a focus on listening and understanding each other.

Truly Listen to What They Say

The type of person you are will determine the difficulty of learning this skill. Most people fall into one of these two categories. One is generally quiet and more of a natural listener. The other is more communicative and enjoys talking.

People love to be listened to. However, sometimes it can take a little bit of work to get the other person out of their shell. While some people you encounter want to tell you their whole life story, when you encounter the quieter type, what you may need to work on is how to get them talking. You can do this by asking a question or two about something they mentioned. Just make sure to ask a question that requires a little detail instead of a simple yes or no response.

If you’re more of a talker-type individual you may need to work on how to truly listen. Instead of merely waiting for an opportunity to say something which most people tend to do use this first encounter to learn more about them. When you truly listen to what a person is really saying you will discover all kinds of ways to further your conversation. When you first meet someone, the more they get to freely express their thoughts and ideas to you the more likely they will have a good impression of you since they found you easy to communicate with because you were a good listener.

Choose Your Words Wisely

Contributing, sharing, expressing, and adding input is needed to create a better conversation with anyone. When a person opens up to you and shares an experience they had you need to try and be part of the conversation. Don’t just merely nod your head, expecting them to carry the whole conversation. Ask questions, and show interest by making statements to show you understand.

When it comes to having a better conversation open-ended questions are generally best. They allow the other person to express themselves and provide more detail. In some situations, there may not be a topic you can immediately ask a question about. Rarely however it can happen. In this situation, you may have to pick your own topic. When this happens offer a very brief thought on the subject and then ask them what their opinion is.

As best as possible try to avoid simple answer questions, especially the one-word answer type. The reason you want to try to stay clear of them is that they tend not to go anywhere. Also if you ask too many, the other person will find them boring, also you run the risk of sounding nosy. Remember you want to make a good first impression, not an annoying one.

When it comes to improving yourself in any area of your life you do not need to work on everything all at once. Look through the ideas and suggestions I’ve provided for you. Pick one or two that you feel could be the most helpful and work on those. Once you feel you are doing much better in that area, then choose another one to work on. Working on too much at once can cause you to become frustrated and possibly give up. Working on one or two aspects will allow you to see quicker improvements. Make small easy changes and add to them over time. You have your whole life to continue to learn how to have better conversations.

Thank you for stopping by to read. Click like if you found it to be of interest. I know this article was about helping you to make a good first impression and how you can have a better conversation with someone however, I would like to ask for your experience. Whenever you met someone for the first time, tell me something that impressed you about the other person. Leave your answer in the comments below.