How Do I Open Conversations?

Have you noticed how the first step of "anything" always seems to be most difficult? Heading down a black diamond ski run, starting your list of Saturday "to do's, taking the first bite of never tasted before food, letting your sixteen year old take the car, and so on!

Applying this thought to communications, taking the first step in "opening" conversations is a pretty consistent challenge for many. What to say when I call? What to say when going up to a stranger? What to day to my employee? and the list goes on. The fact is there is plenty to say quite naturally once the conversation gets started!! It's the getting started that stumps us!

So let's take this challenge on! First let's talk a bit about how business communications and all communications is about matching -- the better the match, the better the communication! And applying what I call "The Matching Game" is the answer to the questions:

• What do I say FIRST?
• How do I BEGIN the conversation?

The game is played by identifying the immediate matches (what we have immediately in common) between us and who we wish to engage. Here are some examples:

NEW MARKETING CONVERSATIONS: The "match" is what is immediately being shared. For example:

1. Networking Meetings - the meeting is the immediate "match" so begin one's conversations by sharing what brought each of you to the meeting ... asking how they heard of it? what brought them to the meeting? sharing how you heard about it, etc.
2. Connection Requests On Social Media - why you want to connect is the immediate "match." What about them is a match for why you are requesting they connect. Talk about them and how they relate to you!
3. Opening Follow-Up Conversations with LinkedIn Connections & Facebook Friends - the use of the resource can be the immediate "match" if there is nothing else fo follow up on from when first connecting. . For example, afr an initial "just a quick hello, staying in touch --- simply share that you are checking in with your fellow (name of network) friends to see how they are currently using the resource! What is working, what isn't?

MANAGER/EMPLOYEE CONVERSATIONS: The "match" is the position being held by the employee and for which the manager has the responsibility. The conversation can open with how the employee feels about their role and a sharing of the value of what they are doing in terms of the company and the manager's interests. It can expand from there .... lead to any specific topics that need discussion.

PEER TO PEER AT WORK CONVERSATIONS: The "match" is the company that you both work at. Open up with what brought each of you to the company. What are the stories that brought each of you to this now "shared" story! It will expand from there in whatever direction you want to take it.

TEAM CONVERSATIONS: The "match" is the company, organization, school, city, etc that their team represents. Each member sharing how they got there.Again what are the stories behind the individual members that got them all in this shared experience.

So let the "matching game" begin! This works for all your communications. Take the time to stop and pay attention to what the most immediate "match" is between you and who you want to engage with. Once you open with the match steer the conversation in the direction you want to go. Give it a try!!

Here's to your communications success in 2025!

#strongcommunications

margie