Talking for success can be as easy as stepping up and starting a chat! Does that sound like something that is easier to say than to do?
Ever suffered from being tongue tied? You wish to be smart, you would like to be funny, you would like to say something but try as you may the conversation around you seems to be flowing nicely without your participation and you end up just being a listener, ok, that is respectful for "wallflower."
You go home and kick yourself. Another unhappy evening, why did I even bother you ask?
It doesn't have to be that way. For every occasion there is a conversation and you may be the shining star.
How?
Simple.
Just step up and start up a conversation!
I remember the days when I would be invited to a party by a friend or to an event at work by work-mates. Often, I'd say, "No." It didn't really matter what the occasion was. While I might know some of the people present, there would be others I wouldn't know at all. And, regardless of whether I knew them, so what? What would I say? What could I possibly do that would have them remember me as smart, pleasant and charming?
Instead , I would spend the evening having this superb dialogue with myself. I'd take turns, patting myself on the back for not going, but then feeling guilty and wondering about whether I should have gone. But if I'd have gone, what if I had a psychological blackout or what if I got tongue-tied? A circus of What ifs looped around in my mind, and ran my life. One day, I gave myself a strike on the side of the head and asserted
"Enough already. What are you about to do about it?" (I had come back from a Brian Tracy seminar and one of his key questions was, "What are you going to do about it?")
I whipped myself into action. First, I met up with 2 close friends who were, in my opinion, had brilliant conversation skills and asked them for tips. Next, I scoured the web for reference material. There are not limited periodical articles, net sites and countless books that offer details on 'conversation starters ', 'speaking in public' and what to do when it's time to move into 'conversation ' wrap up. 3 books with mountains of tips, easy-to-read, simple to digest and easy to put into application are
o Conversationally Speaking by Alan Garner,
o How to Talk to Anyone, 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes
o And a genuine gem, The Art of Civilized Conversation by Margaret Shepherd.
I thumbed through the books enthusiastically . Then, one day someone asked me if I'd attend a work-related party. I jumped up, and out of my mouth shot the word, "yes". Since that point, I've met so many fascinating folk.
If you find yourself a tiny bit tongue tied at the concept of stepping out and starting a conversation with somebody, the next time you find yourself being invited to a party or a work-related event, take a big breath, pause and then just say, YES!
Ever suffered from being tongue tied? You wish to be smart, you would like to be funny, you would like to say something but try as you may the conversation around you seems to be flowing nicely without your participation and you end up just being a listener, ok, that is respectful for "wallflower."
You go home and kick yourself. Another unhappy evening, why did I even bother you ask?
It doesn't have to be that way. For every occasion there is a conversation and you may be the shining star.
How?
Simple.
Just step up and start up a conversation!
I remember the days when I would be invited to a party by a friend or to an event at work by work-mates. Often, I'd say, "No." It didn't really matter what the occasion was. While I might know some of the people present, there would be others I wouldn't know at all. And, regardless of whether I knew them, so what? What would I say? What could I possibly do that would have them remember me as smart, pleasant and charming?
Instead , I would spend the evening having this superb dialogue with myself. I'd take turns, patting myself on the back for not going, but then feeling guilty and wondering about whether I should have gone. But if I'd have gone, what if I had a psychological blackout or what if I got tongue-tied? A circus of What ifs looped around in my mind, and ran my life. One day, I gave myself a strike on the side of the head and asserted
"Enough already. What are you about to do about it?" (I had come back from a Brian Tracy seminar and one of his key questions was, "What are you going to do about it?")
I whipped myself into action. First, I met up with 2 close friends who were, in my opinion, had brilliant conversation skills and asked them for tips. Next, I scoured the web for reference material. There are not limited periodical articles, net sites and countless books that offer details on 'conversation starters ', 'speaking in public' and what to do when it's time to move into 'conversation ' wrap up. 3 books with mountains of tips, easy-to-read, simple to digest and easy to put into application are
o Conversationally Speaking by Alan Garner,
o How to Talk to Anyone, 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships by Leil Lowndes
o And a genuine gem, The Art of Civilized Conversation by Margaret Shepherd.
I thumbed through the books enthusiastically . Then, one day someone asked me if I'd attend a work-related party. I jumped up, and out of my mouth shot the word, "yes". Since that point, I've met so many fascinating folk.
If you find yourself a tiny bit tongue tied at the concept of stepping out and starting a conversation with somebody, the next time you find yourself being invited to a party or a work-related event, take a big breath, pause and then just say, YES!
About the Author:
A talented and award winning public speaker, Dorothea Hendriks brings you presentations, keynotes, training and workshops that engage, entertain and inform. Dorothea's experience is teaching folks the proper way to connect, communicate and develop working relationships. Whether you are chatting with a massive group, or having an one-to-one conversation, her accent on the soft talents of communication, perspective, interpersonal, networking, and conversational development for positive outcomes that may build sales and promote careers. A successful entrepreneur, Dorothea focuses on helping you go through your personal barriers, through publicspeaking, show strategies, so as to find a path through your networking events with poise, grace and results.
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