HOW TO START A CONVERSATION AT WORK

Starting a new job means you will meet new people and sometimes seeing someone new can be awkward and nervous. But, to be comfortable with your new job, you need to start a relationship with your colleagues. Not only that, by building a relationship, you can also expand your networking. Some people tend to be less confident when they are not familiar with anyone. So, how to start a conversation at work? 

  • Give compliments to them

Giving compliments to your colleagues can boost their confidence and improve your relationship with them. Complimenting someone about their clothes such as “Nice suit!” can brighten their day and motivate them to be more productive that day. By giving compliments, you can also add some follow-up questions, such as “where do you buy that suit” which can help you to continue your conversation and keep it going.

  • Ask open-ended questions

To ask open-ended questions, you need to be creative such as avoiding simple questions or setting answers like “yes” or “no”. Asking open-ended questions can extend your conversation and keep you from sudden silence. You can ask hypothetical questions, such as “If you are an animal, what would it be, and why” to force their brain to be creative and make the questions complicated. After asking open-ended questions, you can just continue the conversation by giving your opinion of your question.

  • Use your surroundings

Let’s make a scenario: If you are in a kitchen to make coffee and you are with your colleagues, ask about their coffee preference or make them a coffee. If you are in the cafeteria with your colleagues, talk about the food or something interesting. Using your surroundings while you want to build a conversation with someone will break the silence and they are more willing to continue the conversation rather than be stuck in the silence.

  • Ask for an opinion from them

Inquire opinions about something to someone, show that you value their insights and are interested in what they have said. If you ask someone who is familiar with your topic, then they will be pleased to answer your questions and continue the conversation. Ask about something relevant between both of you, such as about buying a shoe similar to theirs or asking for restaurant recommendations near your office. 

  • Ask them about themselves

Some people like to talk about their experiences or things regarding them. Therefore, try finding a topic that allows your colleague to say something about their interest. Try asking a question about “How did you get this position in this office?” or “I heard you went to France, how was it?”. Encouraging them to talk about their experiences will make the conversation keep going on and will not turn into an awkward situation. 

  • Say something about the weather

If you are not creative enough to think what to start with, you can try commenting on the weather. It is one of the easiest topics to start a conversation, especially when you enter your office when it is raining. By saying something about the weather like “The weather is nice, isn’t it?”, the conversation can open multiple topics and get someone to talk.

Remember, starting a conversation can help you to be comfortable during your work time. Always keep the topic appropriate and do not gossip about other people. Be friendly and keep a good impression while beginning a conversation. By staying positive and showing good interest, your effort will be worth it as you will find others are willing to do the same.

References: 

Interview Kickstart. (n.d.). 13 ways to start a professional conversation (with examples) – career advice. Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://www.interviewkickstart.com/career-advice/how-to-start-a-conversation 

Stephanie, S. (2019, January 8). 10 conversation starters to get you talking at work. The Execu|Search Group. Retrieved June 24, 2022, from https://blog.execu-search.com/networking/10-conversation-starters-to-get-you-talking-at-work/ 

Indeed Editorial Team. (2020, January 27). 13 ways to start a conversation (with examples). Indeed. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-start-a-conversation Bansal, V. (2021, March 9). How to start a conversation: Get beyond small talk to forming meaningful connections at work. TechTello. Retrieved June 26, 2022, from https://www.techtello.com/how-to-start-a-conversation/

Daniel Joshua