Socializing

[|Small talk]
Here is an online tutorial on small talk in business on the website [|EnglishClub.com].

1) [|"Wh" questions] The tutorial begins with an introduction to the topic that briefly discusses why and where people make small talk in business.

2) [|Conversation starters] Then a number of conversation starters for different topics are suggested on this page.

3) Then there are three practice dialogues in which you need to spot the mistakes.

[|Practice 1] [|Practice 2] [|Practice 3]

4) [|Quiz] And the tutorial finishes with a simple True/False quiz reviewing some of the points discussed in section 1 above.

Internet links
Here are some links to online articles on the topic of socialising in business (__**please add any others you may find!**__):

[|Powerful Strategies For Meeting And Greeting People] An article from "strategic thinking business coach" Glenn Ebersole. The article begins as follows:

Every day in every businessperson’s life, there are many meetings and greetings. And many of those are an initial contact were you want to ensure you make a strong positive first impression. Still others present great opportunities to enhance existing relationships. So if we think strategically, what simple strategies can we use to ensure successful meetings and greetings?

Read the article and find out what 10 strategies are recommended.

[|First Impressions: Do You Make Your First Impression Your Best Impression?] An article from Michelle Sterling which starts as follows:

People appraise your visual and behavioral appearance from head to toe. They observe your demeanor, mannerisms, and body language and even assess your grooming and accessories – watch, handbag, briefcase. Within only three seconds, you make an indelible impression. You may intrigue some and disenchant others.

Read the rest of this short article to see what she recommends to make a good first impression.

[|How to Make a Strong First Impression: Seven Tips That Really Work!] Here's another article on making a good impression. This one starts like this:

We have all heard this warning: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” Also, psychologists, writers, and seminar leaders caution that we only have from seven to seventeen seconds of interacting with strangers before they form an opinion of us. Read the rest of this short article to see what the author Bill Lampton's seven tips are.

Use the box below to comment on the author's tips. Remember to make a note of new / interesting vocabulary!

[|Pecking order] Here's a news item from the BBC website which you might find amusing. The BBC correspondent Tom Geoghegan takes a light-hearted look at the problems facing Brits in deciding how to greet people when they meet. The article starts like this:

It's the unspoken dilemma dividing Britain - one kiss, or two. Once the preserve of family and close friends, the peck on the cheek is creeping into all walks of life. But no one is sure when it's suitable, and how many are appropriate.

The article also has video clip of British politician David Cameron (leader of the Consrvative Party) kissing people! As well as a brief guide to "Hugs and Kisses".

[|Etiquette for Meeting People in Business] An article by Lydia Ramsey that covers similar ground to the BBC item but from a more serious buiness perspective and focusses on relationship-building. It's sub-heading reads as follows:

Meeting new clients, colleagues or associates is an integral part of daily business life. Follow these rules to help ensure that those critical initial encounters will be the start of profitable relationships.

Read on to discover what her rules are.

[|Social Intelligence: The New Science of Success]

Management consultant, Dr. Karl Albrecht explains how developing social intelligence can be critical in achieving success in a competitive business environment. He starts his article as follows:

"You're wrong. You're dead wrong, and I'll tell you why." That statement, and a few others that came after it, may have caused the loss of several million dollars worth of business for a company I was employed with many years ago.

Read the rest of the article to find out more about this important "soft skill". Do you agree with his explanation? How important do you consider Social IQ to be? Can you think of any examples of how this has helped you?

[|Be careful what you say!] Here's fun short clip that illustrates the need to think carefully about what small talk topics you should choose!

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[|Alternative small talk] Just for fun, here's an alternative topic of small talk conversation (not for everyone!):

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