The first line is easier with a few ready examples.
Direct answer
Good conversation starters are open questions or comments about the shared situation: the event, the setting, the work or a recent experience. Listen to the answer and follow up with curiosity.
At work
- What are you working on at the moment?
- How did you end up in this team?
- What is the best thing you have read or watched lately?
- What has been the highlight of your week?
At events
- What brought you here?
- Have you been to one of these before?
- What did you think of that talk?
Anywhere
- Any good recommendations for [food, shows, travel]?
- What are you looking forward to this month?
- What do you do to unwind?
Keep it going
- Follow up with "What was that like?"
- Share something small about yourself.
- Remember names and details.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's The Art of Small Talk course turns this into short lessons you can play in a few minutes a day. It has 50 lessons, and you can start free.
The bottom line
Ask, listen, follow up.
