Small talk isn't talent, it's practice. Keep three questions ready for networking: what's your biggest challenge, how long have you been in this role, and how do you know people here. Use the same questions with everyone since no one knows you asked them before.
This is Confidence Tip number 118. Small talk isn't talent, it's preparation and practice. Have 3 questions in your pocket. So if you're going to a networking event, have 3 questions ready. Questions about the other person. What's the biggest challenge they're facing? How long have they been in their particular role? Who do they know in this organization that led them to be at this event? How did they come to be at this event? Have 3 questions in your pocket so that you can ask them when you meet someone. And it doesn't matter if you use the same question with different people because, of course, they don't know what you've asked other people. Small talk is not talent. It's preparation and it's practice.
