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If your attempts at networking aren\u2019t making serious inroads, you may need to reconsider the conversation starters you\u2019re using. Research led by Professor Sean Martin<\/a> of the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business looked at how specific topics<\/a> might affect whether a new connection would want to stay in touch later.<\/span><\/p>\n It turns out, people who centered the conversation on their careers were more likely to create a lukewarm first impression. Meanwhile, people who shared details about their lives outside of work had a much better reception.<\/span><\/p>\n For their study, the researchers recorded conversations in a lab experiment and in the field at a technology firm. Afterward, they analyzed those exchanges using language processing software. They say their findings on conversational reactions held across the two settings.<\/span><\/p>\n The differences detected by Martin and his colleagues related more to the way<\/em> people speak about their work. Our voices and word choices change when we discuss more personal topics. When people talked about work, the researchers found they used more \u201cachievement-oriented, transactional words\u201d like \u201cexcel,\u201d \u201cwin,\u201d \u201cgain,\u201d and \u201csuccess.\u201d This vocabulary sends an unconscious signal that the speaker may not have a warm personality or be a good listener.<\/p>\n Now that you know a crucial\u00a0networking mistake<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to avoid, let\u2019s turn to better conversation starters when meeting new people. <\/span><\/p>\n The true goal of networking is to cultivate authentic connections over time.\u00a0<\/span>Harvard Business School research<\/span><\/a> has shown that the more questions you ask, the more your conversation partner will like you\u2014especially if you ask follow-up questions. People gravitate to those who ask thoughtful questions and listen to the replies. Also, conversations centered on getting to know something about the person <\/span>outside<\/span><\/em>\u00a0of work signal genuine warmth. For example, you might ask:<\/span><\/p>\n These questions spark an engaging conversation that offers a glimpse of the personality of the person with whom you\u2019re chatting.<\/span><\/p>\n We’ve got one final tip to share: Look for ways to\u00a0<\/span>establish common ground<\/span><\/a>. Relationship-building expert\u00a0<\/span>Patrick Ewers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0says, \u201cWhenever you interact with someone, you want to end up in their \u2018us\u2019 bucket. You want to be part of their tribe.\u201d This could be something as simple as listening to the same podcast or following the same sports team.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone hears this, their reptile brain makes a calculation that says this person is like me,\u201d Ewers explains. \u201cAnd research has shown that thinking \u2018I am like you\u2019 instantly translates to \u2018I like you.\u2019 It\u2019s how we process likability.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Use both of these tactics to boost the odds that people you meet will walk away with a positive first impression that lays the foundation for a deeper relationship in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Have you ever made a bad first impression? Check out this advice for managing the situation when an initial impression doesn’t go well: <\/em>So, You Made a Bad First Impression<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This post on networking and conversation starters appeared initially<\/em>\u00a0on\u00a0the Blacklight<\/a>, our weekly newsletter for professionals. At\u00a0<\/em>the Blacklight, we\u00a0aim to illuminate<\/a>\u00a0with every dispatch that lands in your inbox.\u00a0<\/em>If you\u2019re thirsty for guidance to help you slay it at work or as a student and move your goalposts closer,\u00a0sign up<\/a> today!<\/em><\/p>\n The post Choose the Right Kind of Conversation Starters<\/a> appeared first on Stacy Blackman Consulting - MBA Admissions Consulting<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cFRESH IDEAS FROM THE BLACKLIGHT\u201d SBC\u2019s Weekly Newsletter for Professionals If your attempts at networking aren\u2019t making serious inroads, you may need to reconsider the conversation starters you\u2019re using. Research…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,749,775,243],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-55202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-stacy-blackman","category-admission-consultants","category-blog","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t\nBetter Conversation Starters to Consider<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTapping into the “Lizard Brain”<\/h3>\n
Huzzah! You made it to the end of the post!<\/em><\/h4>\n