LinkedIn
Twitter
Vimeo
Delicious
#72 Want to be better at conversations or more interesting in meetings? How to talk about things other than the weather.
Not everyone is a great conversationalist, and even the best have a tough day now and then. Plus, we’ve all had a client that is challenging to talk to. So, what sort of things can you do to make better conversation? Here are four ideas:
1) Be interesting by doing interesting things
“Interesting” can be simple or complex. Great conversations can come from things as simple as going to a gallery opening, book reading, or going to a concert. Or for more extreme conversation topics, try running a marathon or sky diving, running with the bulls, or inventing the next great micro brew - I think you get the idea. Talk about, blog about, and share your interesting experiences.
2) Talk to yourself first
Sometimes I go though the steps of an upcoming meeting in my office or in the car. I work through possible questions that may arise or topics I can bring up if there is a lull. This exercise helps me visualize my presentation as a whole as well as prepare for any surprises that come to light. Doing this makes me more comfortable, which makes my presentation go better and keeps the conversation flowing throughout the entire meeting.
3) Read interesting stuff
I have found that my conversations with clients, or anyone in general, improve when I set time aside to read. It doesn’t have to just be books. Read up on your favorite blogs or magazines, and suddenly you’ll have a lot more to talk about. Plus, being up on current trends, technologies, etc. has led me to more work as it results in deeper conversations and better relationships.
4) Do your homework
Nothing beats research before a meeting. Reviewing your clients’ materials, their competition, or learning a little about their industry simply adds to the understanding and depth a meeting can have. Sure, this is a no-brainer. But if you are like me, it’s easy to lose track of time and never get around to doing it. With the ability to Google anything, getting the latest about your client’s industry or company is easy, so make sure it doesn’t get brushed aside.
So, what do you do to interact better with your clients?
#4 on the list is probably the one that I employ the most. I find when I talk about things that interest me, it comes off as a bit haughty.
Often, I’ll find something interesting about someone’s shop/office and talk about that. I try and to find some object that’s fairly insignificant, but purposefully placed and strike up a conversation about that (ie Some little knick-knack besides the cash register or whatever). Odds are, it’s something that they want to talk about and there is story behind it. Even if there are no knick-knacks hanging around, their absence is something worth conversation. It’s during these conversations that I get a sense of who my client and how best to interact with them.