Vanessa Van Edwards shows how to skip small talk by treating new people like old friends. Ask about exciting life events or highlights instead of "What do you do?" The warmth you bring shapes the whole interaction.
Treat people like they're an old friend, even if you don't know them yet. The energy you bring to an old friend is much more warm and welcoming than a stranger. So a stranger, typically, when you're talking to them, it looks like this. Yeah. Nice to meet you. Yeah. My name is Vanessa. What do you do? So much quieter, so much more reserved, and much harder to make a connection versus. If I were to see a whole old friend, first of all, I wouldn't ask them boring questions like what do you do? Or where you're from. I would be like, oh, it's so great to meet you. Tell me all the exciting things you're doing in your life, or what's been the highlight of your week so far. It's much warmer. Assume friendliness, and that actually creates friendliness.
