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How To Achieve Big Networking Success With Small Talk

Attending major business events can be a bit overwhelming especially if you have a problem finding things to say to strangers. In all honesty, almost everyone attending that conference either has felt, or does feel out of place.

But many successful connections are made during the informal conversations that happen all around the room. The art of successful small talk is one that you really need to learn if you truly want to get on in business.

If attending business conferences and corporate meetings is a necessary part of your job and you struggle with making connections because you’re not too good at small talk, keep reading.

You Don’t Need Clever Conversation

Small talk isn’t about being dazzling or having witty one liners. The truth is, it’s about being present, approachable and a little bit curious. You need to look at it like it’s the warm up for a real conversation.

Nobody expects you to get into a full scale business conversation as soon as you shake hands with them. If you did it would probably put that person off of ever talking to you again.

The majority of people are looking for a friendly face and an easy, natural way to get a conversation started. 

Ways To Strike Up Small Talk That Matters

Let’s look at some of the easiest ways to strike up a conversation when you least feel like it. We always think this is only a problem for introverts, but we all feel uncomfortable at large corporate events at some point. You should;

Take Your Cue From Your Surroundings

There’s always a lot happening at these business events which is great for creating a conversation starter. For instance, if you’re standing in the coffee queue, you can make a comment about that. 

Something like “I can’t get through these types of events without a strong cup of coffee”, or “this is the longest queue at this event”. Or if the event is in a grand hotel comment on the decor or the carpets.

If there’s an interesting speaker coming up you could ask if they’ve heard them speak before. These are all light, easy openings that will get the other person talking.

That’s what you want because as soon as they reply, you’ve broken the ice and there’s no more pressure.

Show Genuine Interest In Others

If you approach others with a genuine sense of curiosity it will help to get a conversation started. Most people love talking about themselves and that can be your way to get the conversation flowing.

Ask questions like “Why did you come to this event?” or “have you been to this event before?” These simple questions require a reply which is the basis for a conversation. 

You can then move on to asking more revealing questions like “what did you think about [a particular point] that the last speaker said?” You might find that you have a common interest, a shared contact or even a potential collaboration.

Don’t Try To Impress

It can be very tempting to slip into the conversation your job title, your latest success or how busy you are. But the reality is that people connect with people, not CVs.

You should be genuine, interested in what they’re saying and be open in what you share about your life, not your worklife. This will work far better than trying to impress. People are more impressed with someone that’s quietly confident than with someone who’s bragging about how great they are.

Be Mindful Of Your Body Language

When conversing with others, don’t cross your arms, don’t look all around the room, these are sure signs that you’re not really interested in what’s being said. You should keep an open posture, maintain good eye contact and have a genuine smile.

If you look like you want to be there, people will feel more comfortable talking to you.

Start With Small Talk, But Move Onto More Meaningful Things

Just because it’s called small talk, it doesn’t mean it has to be shallow. Sure you should start with something light about the venue, the coffee queue or something in the room, but you can then move onto more interesting discussions.

You could talk about industry trends, career journeys or even life outside of work. Some of the best business relationships begin with conversations that have nothing to do with business at all.

Small Talk Is The Necessary First Step

While none of us actually like small talk, it is a necessary first step to find out more about a person so that you can hopefully find some common ground. This could lead to a potential new customer, business opportunity or even a new collaborator.

The Best way To Excel At Small Talk, Is To Listen

To get the most out of your first encounter with a new person at a business event, you need to let them tell you about themselves. As we said earlier, most people enjoy talking about themselves and you can learn lots about their personality through listening to them speak.

Sure, you should open up about yourself when asked, but try to learn as much as you can about them.

Remember They’re People First &  Not Just Potential Business Contacts 

You need to keep in mind that the people you meet at corporate events are just that, people. Don’t go into a conversation all guns blazing about how you’ll be good for their business.

That stuff might come later, but at first, it’s all about getting to know each other and building trust.

Practice Your Elevator Pitch

Everybody needs a short elevator pitch to help them introduce themselves at business events. If you’re new to this sort of thing and don’t know what an elevator pitch is, it’s just a short introduction of who you are, where you work and what you do.

It’s called an elevator pitch because it’s supposed to last as long as an average journey in a lift (elevator). So you should aim to speak for around 1 to 2 minutes just to let whoever you’re speaking to, learn a little bit about yourself.

At the end of your elevator pitch, you should have a question that makes the other person think. Something along the lines of “what do you do to ensure that you always add value?” This question works for jobs, relationships as well as personal life.

Do As Much Prep As You Can Before The Event

To improve the quality of your small talk at networking events, you should do some research on attendees and prepare a few questions before you go. You can email event organisers before the event and introduce yourself and ask who else is attending that might be a good connection.  

You can then check their social media to learn more information about their business, and prepare a few conversation starters.

You could maybe practice a few questions for different people in different areas of the business. Try these out on friends or colleagues before you go to the event to see if they sound right and get the right responses.

Find Some Common Ground

Instead of monopolising the conversation and making it all about you, focus on finding some common ground. This could be anything from the area where you grew up to the last place you went on holiday.

Whatever you find that you have in common with the person you’re talking to will make the conversation memorable. Which can lead to a better working relationship in the future. If nothing else, it gives you a decent ice breaker when you meet again.

The secret is to show a genuine interest in them and learn something about them. This can lead to a meaningful conversation at a later date.

How To Exchange Contact Information Without Feeling Awkward

Once you’ve got over the initial uncomfortable small talk part of the conversation and you want to swap contact details, it can feel awkward. Many people get stuck at this point because they don’t know how to move from a chat to exchanging details smoothly.

The best way to do this is to say something like “I’ve really enjoyed this conversation, I’d love to stay connected, what’s the best way to contact you?” You can then either swap business cards, write down phone numbers or scan your digital business cards.

How To Follow Up After The Event

The follow up really is the make or break for many business contacts. You want to keep the connection alive and build a lasting connection. A short email is probably the best way to reconnect and you should keep it light by saying something like, “Hi [name], it was great to meet you at [event] . I really enjoyed our conversation about [topic]. I would love to meet up for a coffee or have a chat about how we can collaborate”.

You need to make your follow up specific, not just “great to meet you” because that means absolutely nothing. Be sure to make reference to whatever you talked about and make the message feel personal and with a direct purpose.

The follow up should be made within 24 to 48 hours of the initial meeting and you should also like or comment on any posts they have on LinkedIn or social media.

Bonus Tips For Turning Small Talk Into Big Business Opportunities

Here are a few more tips on how to make small talk work for you at business events. They include;

• Get To The Event Early
  It’s so much easier to start conversations when there are less people in the room.
• Stay Until The End
  Once the room starts thinning out, it’s often easier to talk to anyone left in the room.
• Go To After Event Parties Or Socials
  Once the conference is over most people start to relax and let their guard down. This makes it easier to form genuine relationships.

It’s The Small Things That Build Big Connections

At the end of the day, networking success isn’t about working the room like a politician. It’s about making a few meaningful connections that last longer than the event itself. 

Small talk is your way in. Master that, and you’ll find yourself building a network that goes way beyond the name badge.

So next time you’re at a business do, take a breath, smile, and start with something small. You never know where it might lead.

SEE ALSO: What To Eat & Drink At A Business Conference (To Stay Energised & Focused)

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