Conversation Starters: Are You Always Lost For Words?

Perhaps you are a shy person or you are lost for words and can't start a conversation with someone and keep it going. Lacking conversational skills can hold you back academically, socially and professionally... 

When you know how to approach someone, strike up a conversation and ask the right questions of people, you stand a much better chance of getting your instructor's attention. You also have a better opportunity to get your supervisor's attention and attract the notice of the opposite sex in dating situations.

Improve Your Conversation Skills

Knowing how to walk up to people, greet them and start a conversation may not come automatically for you. Perhaps you struggle to find topics of conversation - "What interests him? Will I know enough about what he enjoys discussing? Maybe I'll be boring!" As soon as that last thought enters your mind, you give up on the thought of approaching someone - and you sit in your seat, silent, nervous or shy - missing conversation success.

When you learn how to approach others and say, "Hi, my name is ________. How are you today?" you increase your probability of successfully beginning a conversation and making a new friend.

Increase Your Confidence

Are you lost for words? Do you believe you are shy? If so, this may lead to lower self-confidence and missed opportunities to engage in conversations with others. Your work performance and social skills may also suffer.

One part of increasing your level of confidence involves knowing what general topics someone might be interested in discussing. Should you be sitting at a party with an attractive girl, you need to know how to bring up topics with which she might be familiar - the latest movie, Hollywood gossip or her job, for instance.

Know What to Say to Others

Avoid being lost for words. You need to know how to bring up different conversational topics. After you have introduced yourself - "Hi, my name is Mary. How are you today?" you give them an opening to respond. After the person responds, you might ask a question about the weather. As you do, make sure you ask in such a way that the person has to speak in a full sentence. Try a question like, "So, what do you think of this weird weather?" as opposed to, "Do you like all this rain?"

Keeping Conversations Going

So, now you have started a tentative conversation with the person you spotted earlier. She's give you her thoughts about all the rain and how she loves it. You might hate all the rain because you can't ride your bike to work. Approach this by saying, "I can see how you'd like the rain. I have to be careful, though, because I can't ride my cycle to work on rainy mornings." This opens another conversational topic. To avoid being lost for words, fall back on favorite movies or restaurants.

Avoid Conversational Mistakes

Look at your differing viewpoints of the rain that's been falling for two weeks. Your conversational partner may love it while you hate it. If you want to keep the conversation going, telling her, "I hate all this rain!" will stop the conversation dead in its tracks. Find a way of expressing yourself, experiencing conversation success.

Keep Your Body Language Open

You want to approach someone who's body language says, "I'm interested in meeting new people." These people keep their body open - they don't cross their arms or legs. Should you see someone who's closed off, look around for someone who has a relaxed posture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7183963

Five Simple Ways To Ease Your Worries

Everyone has worries from time to time. Money, relationships, family issues, emotional distress  it can all add up and make your mind spin. Take a look at these five simple ways to ease worry. Try one the next time you feel stressed and see what works for you.

1) Write Out A List Of Your Concerns

Sometimes it helps to just get your worries out of your head. The act of writing it all out can take the load off your mind and put it onto a sheet of paper. Once you get everything out into the open, you may get a clearer picture on what's really important and what's not. You can see which problems you don't have control over, aren't very important, or you could actually do something about. If nothing else, writing everything out can be a release so your head doesn't feel so jumbled. Your mind can clear and you can feel more relaxed.


2) Laugh A Little

Got worries? Find your funny bone. You probably know the funny movies and TV shows that will get you giggling. Find a friend who is usually upbeat and see how your mood changes when you're around them. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins, the body's "feel-good" chemicals. This produces a feeling of well-being and happiness. Laughter is a physical activity that puts many of your muscles to work all at once. They feel more relaxed when your wave of laughter subsides. Plus, laughing simply puts you in a better mood for a little while. Even though your problems are still there, you may be able to face them with a smile.


3) Walk Away Your Worries

This is another endorphin releasing activity. Get your blood pumping a little and your heart will be racing for a good reason. The more you help your body associate physical arousal with healthy activity, the better your body will learn to relax itself. The cycle of tension and relaxation that goes with exercise and recovery is very good for your body. Relaxed muscles will help your mind feel calm. Also, getting a little exercise can be a good way to put your mind on something other than your worries. Remember to listen to music or watch the scenery go by as you walk.

4) What's The Worst That Could Happen?

In a typical counseling session, you might be asked to think of the worst case scenario for your biggest worry. It might not seem so bad if you come right out and say it (to yourself or to someone else). Fear does its best work within the dark shadows of your mind. The more you hide from your fears the more they'll own you. Shedding light on the worst possible scenario can help you understand how unlikely it might really be. Once you put things in perspective, your mind will be more at ease.

5) Distraction Disrupts The Momentum

Believe it or not, the conscious brain can't focus on more than one thing at a time. This is good news for someone with lots of worries. When you focus on everything that concerns you all the time, your problems can seem to grow by the minute. Just giving your brain a break from your worries can help them seem a little smaller the next time you think about them. Simply do something you can get caught up in for a short while like house chores, a favorite movie, a phone call to a loved one, or a good book.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7106752

Job Interview Tips to Nail That Job!

Thousands and thousands of people are looking for jobs. Armed with their exceptional educational backgrounds, excellent training, and more-than-adequate experience, these aspiring applicants knock on the doors of giant conglomerates with the intention of nailing their desired jobs. The competition is fierce. It is a dog-eat-dog world out there.

Naturally, companies will hire only the best. So how do you distinguish yourself in sea of qualified applicants? What will make you stand out and impress your prospective employers? To make sure you do not get left behind, you should follow some of these fabulous job interview tips:

1. Be prepared.

Prepare for the interview by doing research on the company and the job position you are applying for. Search for information online, pick up some company brochures, and prepare your updated resume. Compile a list of the common interview questions and ask a friend to do some run-throughs with you. Do not memorize your answers but be sure to be confident about the key points you want to make. If possible, try searching online about the person who will interview you.

2. Be attentive to details.

Another effective job interview tip is to dress appropriately for the interview. When applying for any kind of job in an office, men should don on a business suit, and women should wear a pantsuit or conservative skirt. For non-office positions, this level of formality is not as necessary. Nevertheless, your attire should be neat and clean. Jeans, sneakers, or T-shirts are a definite no-no.

Be early. Arriving approximately fifteen to thirty minutes before the scheduled time is best. Upon arriving, check your appearance by going to the nearest restroom. You will need to create a good impression early on, so your grooming is of utmost importance. Bring a pen, notepad, and a few extra copies of your resume. You should also bring along any other pertinent documents.

3. Create a good impression.

Exude confidence while remaining courteous and polite. Smile as you greet the interviewer and use his or her last name with a courtesy title. Shake hands firmly and wait for the invitation to sit.

Be mindful of your body language. Sit up straight, and avoid folding your arms, covering your mouth or frequently looking away. Maintain eye contact throughout the interview.

Be professional. While jokes can be a great way to ease the tension, they can be risky in a job interview. Listen attentively and ask relevant questions to show your interest. Talk at a moderate pace.

4. Be honest.

Dishonesty can be harmful to your chances of getting the job. If you do not know the answer to a question, admit it. Further questions may reveal your bluff, so it is better to stick with the truth. It also won't hurt to add that you are a quick learner when acquiring new knowledge and skills.

When asked about accomplishments, emphasize those that are directly related to the job you want. Do not exaggerate your accomplishments and give credit to those who helped you. Do not pad your resume. Potential employers often check up on these things.

5. Follow up.

Before you leave, ask your interviewer on how the hiring process will proceed, when they are likely to make a decision, and if there is any more information that they need from you. Do not forget to ask for the interviewer's business card and the company's other contact information.

Call and inquire if you do not hear from the company when you expect to. Sometimes, the process just takes longer than expected. Calling will show that you are still interested and will raise your name again.

Yes, the competition is fierce. But by following these job interview tips, no company will pass up on the opportunity to have you as one of their own.

Gaining Self Confidence: In The Workplace And Everywhere Else

Confidence: what everyone needs to succeed in both our professional and social lives and what so many of us lack. Those of us who struggle with confidence know what kind of disadvantage we're at, both in dating and in the work place. Anxiety follows us everywhere, and hinders us in everything. So how do we go about gaining self confidence when we seem so hard-wired to keep putting ourselves down, letting opportunities go, and berating ourselves for it all?

Here are a few strategies that can help you leave all that stress behind by increasing your confidence daily.

Strategy 1: The Daily Challenge

Everyday, challenge yourself to try something you are afraid to do. This may be the most important strategy of this list, because you literally get to conquer your fears. Just like a kid finally deciding to jump from the top of the jungle gym, you will gain confidence with every leap you take. It can be as simple as making small talk with your coffee shop's cashier, or as heart-dropping as sky-diving from a chartered plane. It's up to you. At some point you will realize, there's nothing stopping you from doing anything you want to do.

Strategy 2: Learn New Skills

Lack of self-confidence often stems from a feeling of uselessness. You compare yourself to others who appear to be so much better at x or y, and fall into the age-old existential question, What is my purpose? What do I have to offer other people? The solution is to work at becoming good at something yourself. The key here is investing time; the more time invested, the better you'll get. Skills like poker or dancing can give you more confidence socially, while working at job-related skills will gain you more confidence interacting with your boss and around your co-workers. As a bonus, you might get a raise.

Strategy 3: Revamp Your Look

Go through all of your clothes; donate the ones you feel bad in, keep the ones you feel good in. Replace your bad clothes with figure-flattering clothes, get a haircut. Try something different, try something bold. This process can be the jumping-off point for starting a new chapter in your life. New look, new you.

Strategy 4: Work Out

It's no secret that working out generally makes people more attractive, and that attractiveness generally leads to confidence. But, there's a second, less talked about benefit to working out: endorphin release. Working out has been proven to make people feel better, and not just while they're at the gym. Working out generates a sense of well-being that lasts throughout the day. This requires a nearly-daily commitment at the gym, however. Sporadic workouts won't work.

Strategy 5: Get Rid of Toxic People

Is there someone in your life who constantly criticizes you? Your boss, parents or significant other are the most likely suspects. Minimize your contact with them, change jobs, break up with them, do whatever you need to do. Maybe you can't change your boss or your parents, but simply identifying who is bringing you down will decrease their power to do so.

The key to using these strategies is persistence. Keep challenging and bettering yourself, and confidence will come naturally.

Women, do you want to learn how to gain confidence in yourself? You don't have to be alone on this journey. Our classes will teach you how to gain self confidence as you study from women who are experts at different aspects of living a successful life joyfully. Join our community where women learn how to gain confidence in themselves.