5 Ways to Start a Conversation With Anyone

Good Morning. It may finally be time to embrace your true self and become a LinkedIn lunatic. A new BI article says more companies are skipping job postings altogether and instead searching LinkedIn for people who look like a good fit. Which means posting about what you’re working on and what you’ve accomplished will help someone find you for your next job. And even worse news… the guy turning his kid’s soccer game into “7 lessons about b2b sales” might actually be onto something. Now, let’s get into today’s Follow Up. (:

Sponsor The Follow Up | Subscribe

Sam Walton (founder of Walmart) had one rule for himself in college:

“Speak to people coming down the sidewalk before they speak to you.”

He greeted people & struck up a convo with everyone. Whether he knew them or not. And that made him one of the most popular guys on campus.

Pretty good return on saying hello (ROSH).

And I can’t know for certain, but I’d be willing to bet that rule played a big part in the success of Walmart.

In sales, there’s plenty of upside to meeting more people. A conversation can lead to a new prospect, an introduction, a new job, or a coworker you actually enjoy getting lunch with.

(The ROI on a good coworker is very, very high.)

The more people you meet = the more opportunities you create.

But nobody sits you down in school and teaches you how to strike up more conversations. (Big miss in our education system if you ask me.)

So today we’re breaking down five ways to strike up a conversation with almost anyone.

Your surroundings always give you something to talk about.

After a conference session, try: “What did you think about that session?”

Or before an office meeting: “Have you worked with this team before?”

Keep the question easy to answer, then follow up with another open-ended question.

Research says that the follow up question is just as important. A 2017 study found that people who asked more questions, especially follow-ups, are seen as more likeable to the person they’re talking to.

This one is painfully simple.

Benjamin Franklin once asked a political opponent to lend him a rare book. He returned it with a thank-you note, and apparently, that guy became friendlier, and they eventually became close friends. All because of a favor.

At a coffee shop, you can ask: “Do you know if they have regular milk here?”

At a conference: “I’ve got time for one more session. Which would you pick?”

At the office: “Have you tried that new lunch spot across the street?”

Don’t overcomplicate this one.

You’re giving someone a small, clear thing to respond to. Ask something you actually want to know, and keep the request small enough that they want to answer.

If they point you toward the milk and turn back to their coffee, thank them. If they mention they come here every morning, there’s your next opening: “What’s worth ordering?”

Let their response tell you if there’s more conversation to have.

A small compliment is a super easy way to open a conversation.

Pick a unique thing you actually like and tell them.

“Hey, I really liked how you explained that example on the call today.”

“Those shoes are great. I’ve been looking for a pair in that color.”

“I liked your post about losing that deal. I had almost the same thing happen last month.”

Be super specific, then give them the floor to respond.

You can ask a question if you’re curious or let the compliment stand on its own and see where it goes.

The key to a good compliment is making sure it’s genuine. Saying “that was a really good call” doesn’t hit as hard as “the story you told about closing your first deal absolutely crushed it on that call.”

A mutual coworker, friend, school, or former employer gives you a place to start.

“I think we both work with David, but we haven’t met yet. What’s your name?”

Or: “You used to work at Dell? I was on their sales team a few years ago. When were you there?”

This is one of the easiest ways to launch a full conversation, because you're finding common ground right off the rip.

But keep the shared connection honest.

You can always go straight to:

“Hi, I’m [Name]. I don’t think we’ve met yet.”

Then pause. Give them a chance to introduce themselves.

The best way to strike up a conversation always depends on the situation.

Choose a moment when they seem available, and take your shot. Your next conversation could lead to a new deal, or a new job, or a new mentor. Ya neva know.

Being the first to say something and strike up a conversation is a skill. And the best sales reps are really good at it.

Check out The Follow Up Guy on LinkedIn.