Starting a conversation is not easy, especially for shy or introverted people. Not to mention that some people are still afraid to start a conversation with strangers, foreigners, superiors, new colleagues, and even with longtime friends because they find it very difficult to start small talk. However, all these difficulties can be overcome by practising the right skills and these 140 conversation topics.
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5 Practical Tips For Starting A Conversation
1/ Let’s keep it simple
Remember that the purpose of conversations is not to brag but to improve communication, sharing, and listening skills. If you keep focusing on saying big things to make an impression, you will put pressure on both sides and quickly lead the conversation to a dead end.
Instead stick to the basics like asking simple questions, being honest, and being yourself.
2/ Start with a question
Always starting with a question is an extremely useful tip. Asking questions is the easiest and fastest way to bring up topics of interest to the other person. To keep the conversation going, be sure to ask open-ended questions. Yes/No questions can quickly bring a dead end.
Example:
- Instead of asking “Do you like your job?” Try “What is the most interesting thing about your job?”.
- Then, instead of getting a yes/no answer, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss relevant topics.
By asking questions, you also show the other person that you care and want to learn more about them.
3/ Use active listening skills
Listen actively instead of trying to predict the answer or think about how to respond. When the other person is talking, pay attention to their expressions, facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and words used by the other person will give you hints on how to continue the conversation. You’ll have the information to decide when to change the subject and when to dig deeper.
4/ Show interest through eye contact and gestures
In order not to fall into an uncomfortable staring situation, you should find a way to make eye contact appropriately combined with smiling, nodding, and responding to the speakers.
5/ Be honest, open, and kind
If your goal is to make the conversation feel natural and comfortable, this is the best way. After asking questions, you should also share your personal experiences. You do not have to tell your secrets of course, but sharing something about your life or worldview will create a bond.
And for topics that make you uncomfortable, politely decline.
- For example, “I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. Shall we talk about something else?”
When you apply the tips above, conversations will develop naturally, and you will get to know people more easily. Of course, you can’t get along too quickly or with everyone, but even so, you will learn something to do better next time.
General Conversation Topics
Let’s start with some of the best conversation starters. These are simple, gentle topics that are still extremely interesting to everyone.
- Do you listen to any podcasts? Which is your favourite?
- What do you think has been the best movie of the year so far?
- Who did you love the most when you were a child?
- Who was your childhood hero?
- What song can’t you stop playing in your head these days?
- If you didn’t have the job you have now, what would you be?
- Would you recommend the last rom-com movie you watched? Why or why not?
- Where would you go on vacation if you had no budget?
- Which celebrity couple do you wish would get back together?
- Three surprising things about you are…
- How has your fashion style changed recently?
- What’s one company perk you’d love to have?
- Are there any Netflix/HBO series you’d recommend?
- What’s your favorite restaurant around here?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve read lately?
- What are your company’s unique traditions?
- What’s one thing you’d love to be an expert at?
- Tell me four fun facts about yourself.
- What sport do you wish you were good at?
- If you had to switch outfits with one person here, who would it be?
Deep Conversation Topics
These are topics to start a deep conversation for you.
- What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever heard?
- What are your best ways to deal with stress?
- What’s the best surprise you’ve received?
- The most important life lesson you’ve learned so far is…
- What do you think about plastic surgery? Does it deserve to be banned?
- What is your definition of risk?
- What do you do when you feel unmotivated?
- If you could change one thing about your personality, what would it be?
- If you could go back in time, is there anything you would like to change?
- What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned at work?
- Do you think that God exists?
- Which of the two – success or failure – teaches you the most?
- How do you keep yourself organized every day?
- What has been your biggest success so far? How has it changed your life?
- What does “inner beauty” mean to you?
- If you could do anything illegal without getting in trouble, what would it be?
- What lessons from your childhood have most impacted your worldview?
- What’s the biggest challenge you’ve taken on this year? How did you overcome it?
- Can we be too young to be in love? Why/why not?
- How would your life be different if social media didn’t exist?
Funny Conversation Topics
Starting a conversation with strangers with funny stories will help you avoid unnecessary conflicts and make the conversation more lively and comfortable.
- What is the weirdest thing that you have ever eaten?
- What would be the absolute worst name that you could give your child?
- What is the funniest text you’ve gotten?
- What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever seen happen to someone else?
- What is a random funny thing that happened to you on vacation one time?
- What is the worst superhero power you can imagine?
- What is something really popular now, but in 5 years everyone will look back on it and be embarrassed by it?
- Where was the most inappropriate place you’ve farted?
- If there were no dress code, how would you dress for work?
- If your personality was represented by food, what kind of food would it be?
- What would be much better if you could just change the colour of it?
- What’s the craziest food you want to try?
- What would be the most special funeral you can imagine?
- What would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time?
- What’s the most useless talent you have?
- What terrible movie do you love?
- What is the weirdest thing that you find attractive in a person?
- What isn’t real, but you wish was real?
- What’s the weirdest thing in your fridge right now?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen on Facebook recently?
Mindful Conversation Topics
These are questions that open the door to having mindful conversation topics with people. So it is appropriate to take place when people want to calm all outside distractions, take a deep breath, make a great cup of tea, and clear the noise in the mind.
- Are you really enjoying your lifetime?
- What do you think about the most?
- In your opinion, how to become the best version of yourself?
- Who was the last person you talked to on the phone so far? Who is the person you talk to the most on the phone?
- What do you always like to do, even when you are tired? Why?
- If a relationship or job made you unhappy, would you choose to stay or leave?
- What are you afraid of leaving a bad job or a bad relationship?
- What have you done that makes you most proud of yourself?
- What legacy do you want to leave behind?
- If you could have only one wish, what would it be?
- How comfortable is death for you?
- What is your highest core value?
- What role does gratitude play in your life?
- How do you feel about your parents?
- What do you think about money?
- How do you feel about getting older?
- What role does formal education play in your life? And how do you feel about it?
- Do you believe your fate is predetermined or do you decide for yourself?
- What do you think gives the meaning of your life?
- How confident are you in your decision-making abilities?
Conversation Topics For Work
If you can get along with your colleagues, your working day will be more enjoyable and help you achieve better results. So if at some point you find that you often go out to lunch alone or don’t share any activities with other colleagues? Maybe it’s time to use these conversation topics to help you be more engaged in the workplace, especially for “newcomers”.
- What part of the event are you most looking forward to?
- What is at the top of your bucket list?
- What is one skill you would love to learn in this event?
- What is a good work hack that you recommend everyone try?
- How has your workload been recent?
- What was the highlight of your day?
- What’s one thing you’re excited about this week?
- What’s one lifelong dream you haven’t yet fulfilled?
- What did you get done today?
- How’s your morning going so far?
- Would you mind telling me about your experience working on this project?
- What’s the last new skill you learned?
- Are there any skills you thought would be crucial to your job that turned out to be unimportant?
- What do you like most about your job?
- What do you dislike most about your job?
- What do you find to be the biggest challenge in your job?
- What are the requirements for this position in the industry?
- What are career path options in this industry/organization?
- What opportunities do you have in this job?
- What do you think the industry/field will look like in the next few years?
Conversation Topics For Networking Events
How to start a conversation with strangers to earn points at the first meeting? How many times have you wanted to expand your social network or want to start a conversation with someone you have never met but don’t know how to start the story? How to make a good impression and prolong the conversation? Maybe you should go with the following topics:
- If you had to sum up this event in three words, which would they be?
- What conference/event would you absolutely hate to miss?
- Have you been to an event like this before?
- What are your highlights from the workshops/event so far?
- Have you heard this speaker before?
- What fascinated you about this event?
- What do you enjoy most about events like these?
- How did you hear about this event?
- Will you come back to this event/conference next year?
- Did this conference/event meet your expectations?
- What is the best event on your list for the year?
- If you were giving a speech, what would you discuss?
- What has changed since you started attending this event?
- Which of the speakers would you like to meet?
- What do you think of the speech/talk/presentation?
- Do you have any idea how many people are attending this event?
- What brought you here today?
- How did you get into the industry?
- Are you here to see anyone in particular?
- The speaker was great today. What did you all think?
Conversation Starters Over Text
Instead of meeting face-to-face, we can contact each other via text messages or social networks. This is also the “battlefield” where people show their charming speeches to conquer others. Here are some suggestions for conversation.
- Where would you like to go for a first date?
- How about the most interesting person that you have met?
- What’s your favourite movie and why?
- What’s the craziest advice you’ve ever received?
- Are you more of a cat or dog person?
- Do you have any quotes that are special to you?
- What was the worst pickup line that you have ever heard?
- Working on anything exciting lately?
- What is something that scares you but you’d like to do anyway?
- It’s such a nice day today, would you like to go for a walk?
- How is your day going?
- What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read recently?
- What was the best vacation you ever went on?
- Describe yourself in three emojis.
- What’s something that makes you nervous?
- What’s the best compliment someone has ever given you?
- What do you want most in a relationship?
- How do you define happiness for yourself?
- What’s your favourite food?
- What was your first impression of me?
Final Thoughts
The skill of starting a conversation is very important to help you have new, quality relationships in life, that’s why you should have rich Conversation Topics. In particular, they also help you create a good image and make a good impression on those around you, making your life more positive, new opportunities.
So hopefully, AhaSlides has provided you with useful information with 140 conversation topics. Apply now and practice every day to see the effect. Good luck!
