Friday Charm School - The Art of Conversation, Part 2

Today we continue our look at the Art of Conversation.

Conversation Essential 2: Starting a Conversation

Whether meeting someone new or greeting someone you've met before, knowing how to start a conversation is an essential skill. Even the most brilliant conversations start with an easy opener. A remark about the weather, the current news, or your surroundings will break the ice and include everyone. This also allows your fellow conversationalists time to prepare a follow through topic. Before arriving at a party, have several "openers" in mind so you'll feel at ease.

If conversation lags, ask a leading question about one of the other people in the group. Something along the line of, "How do you know our hostess?" or "What do you do for a living?" will work perfectly to keep things moving. Conversation is like a ball that bounces from place to place. It is your responsibility to keep the ball moving and not let it drop. When moving from group to group, you can use the same openers or leading questions again to start a new conversation.