If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, you know small talk in English is important to build rapport so you can grow your business. Making business connections with small talk is one of the best ways you can use English to grow your business. The good news is that it’s simple–if you know how.
In today’s Business English lesson, you’ll work on your small talk skills in English so you can go from feeling uncomfortable to confident when you’re networking.
And this topic is so important for your business that I’ll quiz you on it later.
So pay attention to the 3 strategies for better small talk in English in this episode.
Take the quiz at the end of this lesson!
Did you know that I’ve created a quick and easy quiz to go with this lesson so that you can practice everything you see here today? I want you to make this part of the English you actually use in real life! So read carefully to find today’s quiz question and see if you can answer it! (You’ll find the answer in the comments section).
What you’ll learn in this article:
1. Business English Small Talk Tips for Entrepreneurs: Ask great questions (so you know what to expect!)
2. Business English Small Talk Tips for Entrepreneurs: Ask great follow-up questions (to keep the conversation flowing)
3. Business English Small Talk Tips for Entrepreneurs: Find common ground to create rapport.
1. Business English Small Talk Tips: Ask great questions (so you know what to expect!)
Do you know what often makes my clients feel stressed out about small talk?
You don’t know what the conversation is going to be about! Unless…YOU start the conversation with a great question.
The next time you need to tackle small talk, try one of these starter questions:
“Do you ever listen to podcasts when you’re traveling for business?”
“Have you seen any great movies lately?”
“Have you been to any interesting art exhibits (or museums) lately?”
“Do you ever watch TV series? Do you have a favorite?”
Asking questions is a GREAT strategy for improving your small talk in English.
Why?
First, when you ask the questions, you KNOW the answer will be about a specific topic–so you can be prepared, understand better and feel more confident.
Besides, you show interest in your conversation partner–which is very important for small talk!
Also check out my lesson: How to make small talk
2. Business English Small Talk Tips for Entrepreneurs: Ask great follow-up questions (to keep the conversation flowing)
Ok, so there’s nothing worse than awkward silences in conversation. Imagine, you ask a question, your business contact answers and then both of you are silent…looking around.
Awkward!
Here’s a dialogue to show you how to ask better follow-up questions:
Let’s say you started by asking about favorite films…
You: “Oh, I just saw a great movie at the movie theater–have you been to any good movies lately?”
Your Client: “Well, I’ve been really busy lately, but I did see a really great film on Netflix earlier this month.”
You: “Ah, that’s a good way when you’re busy–what was the last good movie you watched?”
Your Client: “It was a bio pic about Steve Jobs. I think it was just called “Steve Jobs.” It was really fascinating.
You: “That sounds like a good one. I’ll have to watch it….Do you watch a lot of movies about business?”
Your Client: “Hmm…now that you mention it, I do. How about you?”
Did you see all the questions in that one small dialogue?
More questions means great small talk, and less awkward silence!
Quiz alert!
Alright, you’ve seen 2 of my small talk in English for entrepreneurs strategies. Can you remember them? Pay attention to the third because your quiz is coming!
Also check out my lesson: “Is my level good enough for the Fluency Club?”
3. Business English Small Talk Tips for Entrepreneurs: Find common ground and create rapport.
My last tip for you, from one entrepreneur to another, is to use small talk to find common ground–that is points you have in common with your business contact or client.
Imagine this: you ask if your business contact:
“Have you seen any great series lately?”
And she says:
“Actually, I don’t have a TV. I don’t ever watch TV.”
This could be a moment of awkward silence. But you’ve got this–you come in with another question–because the subject of TV is not the important thing. The important thing is your conversation partner, and getting to know them!
You: “How interesting! I suppose that gives you time to do other interesting things…”
Your business contact: True, since I stopped watching TV, I’ve read 60 books so far this year. And I have time to follow my favorite business podcasts.”
(Maybe here is where you find your common ground!)
You: “I love business podcasts…which ones do you listen to?”
Your Business English Quiz for Entrepreneurs:
Time to test your Business Communication Skills in English.
Did you get those 3 small talk tips for entrepreneurs? What were they again?
#1 Ask great_________
#2 Ask great_______________________
#3 Find __________________
Your answers to today’s quiz are in the comments section!
Also check out my lesson: 2 new Business English habits you can start in 2021
Be as active in your English learning as you are in growing your business.
Remember, just watching this video will help you understand what to do–but to see real change, you need to make it a habit to practice your English regularly. Start your habit today. Get your habits starter kit for entrepreneurs learning English today.
And take a tiny step today to improve your English by practicing in the comments…and checking your answers to today’s quiz!
Improve your English in the comments
The best way to become more confident using Business English is to practice!
Here’s your Confidence Challenge for this week:
- Think of one great small talk question you could ask a business contact.
- Write it in the comments below.
If you learned something from this lesson, please share it with your coworkers & friends. You can send your message to them in English for more practice!
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Become more fluent & comfortable in conversations
If you would like to take the next step with me, discover my Faster Fluency Conversation Club Membership Program!
It helps you become more confident speaking in conversations, and get a lot more vocabulary on many different topics! And it’s a fabulous community of “English buddies” from around the world!
TIP: Use the code FFCC40 to save -40% off your 1st month of membership!
More details at
https://mybusinessenglishcourses.com/faster-fluency-conversation-club/join-now
Can’t wait to see you in the Club,
Christina
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Get the answers to your quiz!
So, what were those 3 strategies for great small talk in Business English settings?
#1 Ask great questions (so you know what to expect in the conversation).
#2 Ask great follow-up questions (and keep the conversation going).
#3 Find common ground (so you can build rapport with your business contacts).
Do you like travelling?
What countries have you been to?
What impressed you most of all in these counties?
Where are you going on holidays next time?
What countries would you like to visit and why?
Great questions there, and they would definitely be good for small talk about vacations! Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!