This document provides tips for connecting with new people through social interactions in 4 steps. Step 1 is small talk to establish comfort. Step 2 is learning about each other's backgrounds by asking open questions. Step 3 is building a conversation by discussing shared interests found in steps 1 and 2. Step 4 is sustaining the conversation by showing genuine interest in what the other person says and asking follow up questions. The overall message is that networking can be fun and easy by following these steps to get to know others on a deeper level.

1. BEYOND
SMALL TALK
Tips
to get

2. Social interactions
a key part
of life
We meet new people
everyday…
sometimes,
every hour

3. How to
instantly connect with them?
They come from
“diverse” walks of life

4. 4 EASY STEPS
Step 1:
Small Talk after the introductory „Hi‟
Step 2:
Learn each other‟s background
Step 3:
Build a conversation
Step 4:
Sustain the conversation

5. STEP 1: SMALL TALK
Small talk – our chance to
exchange pleasantries,
sense moods,
establish comfort.

6. Begin with a simple question:
“Nice party, eh?”
An excited response means
he/she is in high spirits
and is probably
an extrovert
with a liking for large gatherings.
Follow up with a question like:
“What’s your connection
to this event?”

7. STEP 2: LEARN EACH OTHER’S
BACKGROUND

8. You want to know two things
WHAT
THEY
DO
HOW
YOU CAN
HELP
Don’t ask:
“What do you do?” or “Tell me about your work.”
ASK:
“How do you spend most of your time?”

9. And talk about your work
Don’t say:
“I‟m a software engineer.”
Hand out
your
business card
SAY:
“I‟m a programmer with a focus on web design.
My most recent work is so-and-so dot com.
Let me write it down for you.”

10. STEP 3:
BUILD A CONVERSATION

11. Take cues from
Small Talk and Background.
***
Discuss interests
(and hobbies, if appropriate)
***
To be able to converse,
develop the habit of reading.
For latest and general topics:
Mashable, Fortune,
Reddit, Twitter, Quora,
Flipboard, The Verge

12. Heard her talk about
how good the wine tastes?
Ask more about
her knowledge in wine.
You find the
building’s design to be great?
Talk more about
your interest and latest trends
in building designs.

13. STEP 3:
SUSTAIN THE CONVERSATION

14. Take
a genuine interest
in what the other
person is saying.

15. If you don’t understand what they’re saying,
parrot his last few words as a question.
Let‟s say your conversation partner says:
“My wife wants us to buy a house to settle.
But what I really want to buy is a Ferrari.”
Respond with:
“Ah! You’re a Ferrari fanboy?”
This is certain to get him excited
and he will go on to tell you about his love
for Ferrari.

16. RECAP:
Step 1:
Establish rapport during small talk
Step 2:
Learn about each other
Step 3:
Build a conversation
by discussing interests
Step 4:
Sustain it by being genuinely interested

17. What are your thoughts about
Social Interactions
now?
Isn’t networking actually fun and easy?

18. Reference:

19. Visit
www.karthikselvaraj.com
for more posts.
Thank you!