Page 169 - Wake Up and do Your Thing

NICHOLAS BOOTHMAN
Current affairs: the weather, the news, sports will do in a pinch. Or your community or a new restaurant nearby. An easy and natural comment about the occasion or location followed by an open question works wonders. You don"t need to agonize over sparkling opening lines just say something then add a tag question (isn"t it? don"t they? doesn"t it?). Keep it light and avoid anything deep or sexual. Talk about who you know and look for common ground. Show you are genuinely interested. And listen.
Remember to be charming rather than alarming. That means eye contact and a smile (don"t overdo it or you"ll scare them), open body language and synchronizing. And make sure the other person does at least half of the talking. Remember to shut up and listen. Listen with your eyes and your ears.
Hunt for Common Ground
Common ground is the holy grail of talking to strangers. The moment you find it, you have a bond. The pressure is off, and you can share your stories and your ideas and your casual chit chat. The quicker you find things in common, the faster the connection. To do this, get them talking. The easiest way to get someone talking is to ask them what they think about something. If you"re at a convention, ask them what they think about the transportation, the hotel, the hours, their first impressions of the place. !Is this your first trip? What"s your initial
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