October 2011
Exchanging pleasantries and keeping up a conversation, no matter how mundane the topic, is part of being courteous to the people that surround you, whether at work, at family functions or at social events. A genuine “How’s it going?” or even a short “Hello” may be acceptable and good enough at times, but extending the conversation to create rapport is sometimes necessary too.
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Follow these easy small talk guidelines to get past the curt greetings and establish a relationship that you can build on in the future.
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Be attuned.
Gauge whether the person you are talking to is receptive or not—if he seems distracted or fails to respond to you, then just take a hint and back off. If the person seems to be willing to chat, make sure not to overstay your welcome and give your friends some space.
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Keep spaces open.
Stand to one side while doing small talk and don’t block traffic, whether you’re at a cocktail party or in the middle of a business conference.
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Stay open to others.
If others make a motion to join in on the conversation, be courteous enough to include them. You may have to switch the topic to make sure everybody is in the loop—find a subject matter that everyone can contribute to.
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Be sensitive to others.
Keep your voices low, and watch out for other people’s body language. You may be talking over other small groups of people or creating distractions for other groups within the same space—in that case, take your conversation outside or to another place where you will not be in other people’s way.
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End it well.
Round out your conversation with a pleasant comment such as, “It was nice talking to you” or “I need to get back to work now.” Leaving small talk with a definite close will ensure that the next conversation will start out well.
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The Blue Leaf is a great place to host parties, whether you're looking to entertain corporate clients or throw a get-together for friends and family. We can help you forge new bonds and make new memories, no matter what the occasion. For inquiries, call The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion at 898-BLUE or visit http://www.theblueleaf.com.ph/ for more information.
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The Blue Leaf Events Pavilion • 632 8872175 • 632 8875687 • inquiries@theblueleaf.com.ph
100 Park Avenue, McKinley Hill Village,Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
