Welcome Professionals…

…When we meet someone for the first time, there are good and bad introductions. One of the worst is to start right away with the question of “what do you do?”. Meaning “what is your profession?” or “what are you doing for living?”.

This answer to this question instantly leads to categorizing the other person into useful or not useful contacts, into potential client, supplier, colleague, or outsider. We can be sure that the counterquestion of “what do you do?” will follow shortly after the answer and if we don’t watch out, the conversation will be over by that time.

We unconciously categorize people by all kinds of ways before we approach them: by age, gender, color of skin, clothing, status, behaviour, and so on. There is no need to add another categorization right in the beginning of a verbal contact. It is much better to open the conversation with a commonality than another differentiation. Something that addresses a common experience. Something that most likely can be shared with the approached person.

Potential openers could be something along these lines:

• How do you know the host of this party?
• The weather is supposed to be fantastic on the weekend – do you have any plans?
• I think the band is doing a great job tonight, what do you think?

You get the idea. Wishing you good conversations!

Malte

Thursday Night Flight is brought to you by Malte Müller Professionals. Sharing best practices for top management consultants on topics like communication, client handling, problem solving, appearance, and fitness. Check out www.mm-professionals.com for more material and free resources!