This magazine keeps you up-to-date with the best in public speaking, communication, confidence and emotional intelligence. In this edition you'll find practical, easy-to-follow tips to help you use interesting conversation topics and interesting conversation starters. You are welcome to forward this newsletter to your colleagues, family and friends.
Written and published by Rachel Green.
Visit our website at http://www.rachelgreen.com
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In this edition:
- The background on interesting conversations, plus NEW WEBINAR bookings open on "How to introduce yourself".
- Top tips on how to make interesting conversations.
- More tips on developing interesting conversations.
- Special offer: F.R.E.E. CD set, "Be a winner at dinner: Network and converse with confidence": Buy one, get one F.R.E.E.
- Laugh your socks off.
1. Background.
Interesting conversations can be hard to come by. If you go along to a dinner party, client function or Christmas social how many times are you stuck for what to talk about? Worse still, instead of having an interesting conversation with someone, you can end up being bored, badly bored!
How can you make interesting conversation? What makes for good conversation starters? How can you turn a dull and deadly exchange into a very interesting conversation? Read on to the tips section to find out.
I'm in Sydney and NSW in November - do you want me?
I am coming over to speak at a conference in Sydney, during the week of November 10th 2009. Do you want me to talk to your group as well? If so, just email:
Our New WEBINAR.
Our first webinar will be on Thursday 29th October 10:00am - 11:00am, Perth time, Western Australia. Bookings are now open here. Topic: "How to introduce yourself to people (including strangers) and break into groups."
It is ideal for all the Christmas functions, parties and dinners you'll be invited to. It will give you the confidence to know what to do, so you do meet new people instead of standing back at the drinks bar or getting stuck with just one person.
What is a webinar? Go here to find out: http://www.rachelgreen.com/Webinars.html
Book in now.
Welcome new readers.
Welcome to you if you are one of our 31 new readers from around the world this fortnight. We have people from the UK, India, Australia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the USA. Good to have you with us.
Competition winner.
The winner this fortnight, of a free E-book from our range, is godwinjvit. If this is you, please contact us to claim your E-book prize by Sunday 11th October 2009:
2. The TOP TIPS: Five tips on how to make interesting conversations.
Tip 1: Take material with you.
I attended a fabulous dinner party last Saturday. The conversation wasn't just interesting but brilliant. We all talked non-stop, laughed a lot and left feeling energised and stimulated. How did this happen?
I had turned up with some letters and blog topics from my soon-to-be new website. I had just printed off four, in case I could get a private moment or two to chat to anyone interested about them and get their opinions.
Little did I know that when I dropped this idea into conversation that it would ignite a fascinating conversation, but it did. When I introduced the first topic it was like a firecracker going off.
This is what I learnt. A great topic of conversation is one that seeks someone's advice or opinion, for instance on a problem you know someone else has; or on a topic that is being discussed by others.
I started by mentioning a comment that was in The Glass Ceiling forum I'm running. Well that got the women going and then the men joined in with different opinions. And this included young guys. Ages at the dinner party ranged from 21-58!
From there I mentioned a blog I'd written on the way that some people manage anxiety and money worries with retail therapy. It proved to be a very interesting conversation starter and then it took on a life of its own.
Tip: Take some conversation material with you to discuss and seek opinions on. I'm going to be doing this again! Whether it's the letters to the editors page, or a blog you've come across or the agony aunt in a magazine, try anything. Interesting conversations occur on topics that are not the run-of-the-mill.
Tip 2. Talk about your experiences.
Don't hold back and keep your world or your life private. Be willing to reveal some of the things you've done in your life. Interesting conversation topics can be based on your life.
For example, when I first mentioned managing money worries by indulging in retail therapy one of the women started talking about how she manages anxiety by going out and buying specials. Then we talked about when is a bargain really a bargain, then we talked about bargains we had found, then I talked about a man I'd met in a Bed & Breakfast who'd bought a vintage car for over US$8,000 on e-Bay who was still waiting for it to arrive, and on the conversation rolled.
There were seven of us at the dinner, four men and three women and EVERYONE joined in. Once it was about our personal experiences and stories we all had something to share and join in with. Ever met anyone who doesn't like a bargain? I was brought up on them by a mum who took me to jumble sales to buy clothes!
Tip: Talk about yourself and your experiences. You will never know how much you have in common with other people until you do. Personal stories can make far more interesting conversations than some academic description of events or ideas you're not personally involved with.
Tip 3. Choose meaningful conversation topics.
Look at the people you are with. What would be meaningful conversation topics for them? What are their passions? What ignites their flame? You don't know? Then ask them.
Move away from the mundane topics that are spoken about at every dinner table and search for interesting conversation topics. There are lots of ways to do this, including asking people about their best holidays, their best childhood memories, the most bizarre things they've ever done ... and on the list goes.
Also, be willing to tell of the time you had a fabulous holiday, did something weird, or had an exciting or dangerous time as a child.
Tip: Be willing to explore and don't close down your conversation topics too early.
Tip 4. Be genuinely interested in people.
People will be different from you. Don't go to a social expecting people to have the same ideas, experiences or interests as you. Instead, be willing to find out what makes people tick, how they are different from you, what experiences they've had through their lives to make them what they are.
There are some very interesting people if you're willing to listen and encourage them to tell you about themselves.
Of course, it makes for even more interesting conversation if you also share your experiences.
Tip: Interesting conversations are not question and answer routines. Interesting conversations involve sharing between people, not one person extracting from another.
Tip 5. Work through the alphabet.
There are thousands of interesting conversation topics. Stop doing the same old ones over and over again.
Start with the letter A and think of a topic and introduce it. It could be anything from animals, ambulances, aunties, anxiety, angina, arrow making, advice you've been given, artifacts ... the list is very long. Make it fun. Go through them together.
Then go to B and choose a topic: baseballs, batman, bellies ... you've got the idea. You could even make it into a party game.
Tip: Interesting topics of conversation are right there in every dictionary!
If you or your staff have the round of Christmas socials coming up I run a high energy and very practical session on networking skills to make sure you all know how to shine and get the best out of your functions.
I will even facilitate the function for you and have everyone meeting and mingling. Contact me on
3. More tips on developing interesting conversations.
Each month new tips are placed on our page of Personal Development Tips and Articles.
There are several sets on the art of conversation and managing events for you to read. Click on the links to read three of them:
- Conversation skills: Ten tips for making good conversations at Christmas.
- How to be a brilliant host of a work cocktail party or event.
- Ten tips on being the ideal dinner guest.
4. More ways to develop your conversation topics and skills.
"BE A WINNER AT DINNER: How to chat and network with confidence and skill."
This is the ultimate help on making "small-talk" and conversations. If you've ever run out of things to say, got stuck with a boring person or missed out on meeting new people, then take hope! These 3 CDs give you the essential keys to overcoming all these problems.
Whether it's a cocktail party, business function, family celebration, networking event or Christmas social you'll learn how to make interesting conversations, talk easily to people, including strangers, and to exit politely. Never be lost for words again. Enjoy meeting new people and make interesting conversations.
Click here for more details.
Click here to order.
Bonus: If you buy these CDs on the website no later than Sunday, 11th October 2009, then you will receive a second copy of the CDs for F.R.E.E. worth $75. Give them to a friend this Christmas and help them too.
To be eligible for the extra copy you must order through our On-line Book and CD store and click newsletter when it asks you where you heard about the CDs. Don't miss out - hurry as this offer closes, Sunday, 11th October 2009. This offer is ONLY available to CONFIDENCE 4 U Readers.
5. Laugh your socks off.
Thanks to our Confidence 4 U reader, Fran Yeoh, from Perth for this fortnight's "oldie but goody" clean joke.
Jesus is watching you.
A burglar broke into a house one night. He shone his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said, "Jesus is watching you."
He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze. When he heard nothing more, after a bit, he shook his head and continued.
Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard "Jesus is watching you."
Freaked out, he shone his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.
"Did you say that?" he hissed at the parrot.
"Yep", the parrot confessed, then squawked, "I'm just trying to warn you that he is watching you."
The burglar relaxed. "Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?"
"Moses," replied the bird.
"Moses?" the burglar laughed. "What kind of people would name a bird Moses?"
"The kind of people that would name a Rottweiler Jesus", replied the bird.
If you have some clean jokes we can use, please send your contributions to
May you enjoy many interesting conversations and find it easy to generate interesting conversation starters and interesting conversation topics. Chat away!
With kindness,
Rachel.
Further information for you
Learn in your own time.
There are eight CD sets, a printed book and seven Electronic books to help you, including the 3 CD sets on "Confidence for women," and the NEW E-book "Overcome your fear of public speaking - forever." Please order in our online book and CD store - we have a secure server: click here.
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Disclaimer: The information in this magazine is of a general nature and may not suit everyone or every situation. While every care has been taken to ensure it is useful and appropriate, no responsibility can be taken for the results gained from its implementation.
Please seek individual professional guidance for any difficulties you may have with your confidence, relationships, conversations, interpersonal skills, event management or communication. Thank you.
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