How To Get To Know A New Person During A Conversation

The things you say and do in a first meeting are as important as the words you hear and the questions you ask. This is the first opportunity to put a face to the name and inspire a sense of trust. Every detail matters, because the feeling of trust you get from the very first conversation is crucial to the success of the relationship.

When you meet someone who doesn't click with you, it can come across as a "dislike". To break the ice, match their interests and turn the situation into a win. Psychological profiling can help. It also helps people build deeper bonds.

Starting with a great opening line, helps to start a conversation and with psychological questions we give ourselves a chance to get to know the other person better.

When we are dealing with people from different cultural and social backgrounds, we need to be even more careful. As a general rule, know that people do not like to be interrogated or challenged. Be sure to gauge the other person's reaction before asking questions or making statements.

What Makes A Great Opening

You give the other person a sense of who you are and what you are about. The first impression you make is vital and the way you begin that impression is just as important. The eye contact and the facial expression you make when you meet someone is a very important part of creating a great first impression.

Eye contact is a very direct and obvious method of communication. It gives other person the feeling, that you are paying full attention to them and thus, more confident. A confident person is a more attractive proposition to other people.

Some people have a difficult time making eye contact, or maintaining it throughout the conversation. It is important, that you know this about someone before you ask them for information, that you need for your own advancement.

The other very obvious, but important, cues you send are the ones that relate to your body language. Body language is something that people notice and understand without you even having to say a word. A confident and composed person, even if they aren't speaking, generally indicates a more agreeable and trustworthy person.

The tilt of the head, the tilt of the eyes, the curvature of the spine, the position of the hands all indicate the degree of comfort that a person has with themselves and thus, with other people.

Other less obvious cues, that you send with your body language are your assumptions about a person. Many of these are linked to their physical stance. For instance, a person who is fearful is going to have very different assumptions about themselves and their surroundings, than someone who is confident. The way you hold yourself, the way you stand, the position of your hands all send messages, that you are unaware of.

The very last thing you should do is touch the other person without permission. Studies have shown that people generally dislike being touched by strangers, unless the touching is meant as a friendly gesture.

When you make direct eye contact with someone, you are essentially saying, "I am interested in you." It is a very aggressive statement, but it is necessary to let the other person know, that they are being evaluated, so that they will have a starting point for the conversation.

If you touch some part of the other person's body when you make this direct eye contact, you are putting yourself in a very compromising situation. It is best to remain in control at all times.

Questions To Ask

Questions are an important part of establishing a rapport with another person. This is generally true of any social situation, but it is doubly so in a first meeting. Your manners and your ability to conduct yourself well are on full display when you are making small talk.

It is therefore necessary to be well prepared, when you make the first move or statement in a conversation. You should have a good number of questions prepared in advance, so that you can make an interesting, engaging conversation without being repetitive or dull.

The best way to come up with a list of good questions is to think about the kind of person you are talking to. What do you know about them? What kinds of things have you been interested in? What kinds of things make you see them as a potential ally? It is best to start off with something general, and work your way towards more specific questions.

How To Know What To Ask

Think about the kinds of things you have been interested in. If you have a general area of curiosity, it is best to work towards a question that is relevant to that area. By taking this approach, you will be able to avoid coming off as too invasive, too pushy, or being seen as ignorant.

You also want to consider what the other person might be interested in. The more you know about what they are interested in, the more effectively you will be able to make them a partner in the conversation.

It is always best to be direct and to the point, rather than playing guessing games with people. By asking them directly, they will be able to answer your questions with greater clarity and less ambiguity.

Of course, you could also just start a conversation by asking them what they think about the first topic that comes to mind. You might learn something new, or see something that you had not considered before. The key to making the most out of any conversation is to really listen to the other person and be prepared to take their lead in order to make the conversation flow.

Another important thing to keep in mind is that it is always worth checking with a few relevant questions to see what kind of reaction you get. Not only will this throw away any potential secrets, but it will also help you gauge the other person's reliability and intentions.

What Are Hot Spots And Why Should You Avoid Them

You begin by asking a general question about what kinds of topics people normally talk about in these kinds of situations. You are rewarded by getting a very general answer, but one which appears to be very thoughtful.

"Well, I suppose the most important thing to talk about is ourselves. Our past, our regrets, our hopes, our dreams..."

There are two very obvious ways to get involved with this. One is the so-called "wish list" of topics, that the majority of people would list as being very important. The other is a list of controversial topics, that would probably be considered off limits.

The latter list contains some very dangerous topics. Depending on how you phrase the kinds of questions you ask, you could find yourself in a situation where you might be in trouble. It is best to be careful, and to ask questions, that are less likely to get you into an argument or a compromising situation.

How To Deal With An Uncomfortable Situation

There are a few ways, that you can approach a potentially uncomfortable situation. You can try to change the topic, or the tone of the conversation. Sometimes this is possible, but other times it is not. You can admit your own ignorance, and hope that the other person will explain the situation in greater detail. You can also try and mask the situation, by asking a question, that appears to be concerned with something else.

Of course, the best solution is to change the topic or the tone of the conversation, if you are not able to accurately assess the situation. However, if you are able to accurately assess the situation, you should take advantage of it. After all, who knows what kinds of potential secrets you could learn by asking the right questions in the right way?

You should also be able to easily detect whether or not the other person is trustworthy, so that you can incorporate them as a partner in the conversation in one way or another.

Thank you for reading.