Top 10 Conversation Icebreakers
In spite of the misconception that icebreakers are only for shy people and the introverts, the truth is that sometimes even a skilled orator can have trouble finding his words or run out of ideas on how to initiate a discussion. More often than not, icebreakers are used at an event or a meeting, when a person is trying to conduct a discussion with a stranger or an acquaintance whom they do not really know much about.
Whether or not the following conversation icebreakers will be efficient in the situation you find yourself mostly depends on how comfortable you feel, as your confidence is what makes you a fun person, while you can be certain your interlocutors will feel at ease as well.
We understand that getting the conversation started is not an always easy task. To help you out, we’ve created a top 10 list of conversation incebreaker ideas for fun and easy ways to break the ice.
1. Go say “Hello!”
Sometimes, breaking the ice is as simple as making the courage to go that person, saying Hi! and introducing yourself. Now, if you happen to build the confidence to put on an infectious, sincere smile you can be certain that the entire scene will not feel awkward. In general, a smile shows your interlocutor that you are a warm, kind person and you enjoy meeting new people. Therefore, he/she will not be forced to adopt a defensive position and will feel comfortable talking to you.
2. Help out with a small task
You won’t believe how many good friendships started out with somebody offering his/her help with a minor task. For instance, if you are at the gym, aiding somebody you like perform certain type of exercises is usually a surefire way to strike a conversation. At the same time, if you happen to be at a party, then helping the host or the person in charge of the drinks pour the beverage and serve the guest is surely not going to go by unnoticed.
3. Talk about music
In case the event or meeting you are attending implies music and dancing, then you can approach the person you like by making a smart remark about the band/artist/genre of music that is playing. Essentially, taking about music is two-folded, since you can create a connection based on the fact that you both enjoy the same music as well as get to learn more about your interlocutor’s preferences from the type of music and lifestyle he/she prefers. Therefore, not only will they share their personal insight on the music, but also will most likely explain why they like it as well.
4. Ask about their personal beliefs
In the eventuality that your interlocutor has been staring at a picture for a while now or simply wears a custom t-shirt with a quote, then use that as a conversation icebreaker. For example, if the person you would like to talk to is dressed in a t-shirt indicating that he/she fights for saving the environment and you ask about his opinion on the matter, the conversation will easily continue on its own.
5. Inquire about whether he/she is a night or day person
If you are at a meeting and you notice that the person you are interested in looks rather bored, yawns or is completely absent, then you can start a discussion by asking a silly question such as “Mornings are not your thing, huh?” or “So, you’re an owl just like X?”. Irrespective of whether you guessed the interlocutor’s answer, you can continue the conversation easily from this point. For instance, if he/she is a night person, then you can talk about your favorite things to do in town, the clubs you usually go to, etc. On the other hand, if she/he is a morning person then you can inquire about the favorite activities as well as find out where the person works, the favorite drinks, so on and so forth.
2013-01-14 01:55:13
Source: http://top-10-list.org/2013/01/11/top-10-conversation-icebreakers/
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