Starting a conversation with someone you don't know.

For any service business it is hard to avoid the fact that your personal ability to communicate is a huge factor in your success. After all, your clients, prospects, and referrers all need to trust you. And to trust you they need to like you - and have some understanding of who you are.

Creating conversation is at the core. And it is nowhere more important than when you are 'networking'.

Now don't cringe when I say 'networking'. The art of making conversation with people is essential. It doesn't matter whether you call it networking or just plain being friendly.

In this article by Penelope Trunk there are some excellent points made about creating conversation with people you don't know (yet).

"You don’t need to be extroverted to be a great conversationalist; you need to care about other people."

Penelope highlights an interviewer who always finds something to talk about with the interviewee, even when she doesn't know about the field they work in.

Read the article - it's worth it.

Penelope sums it up by saying...

"Of course, in order to practice this you have to open yourself up for some awkward situations. But there is no way to grow without being awkward at first, so try it."

If you ask me, that is excellent advice.