How do you present a new topic? Do you find yourself standing there not saying anything knowing what you want to talk about but don’t know how to introduce the subject? Try a lead in. It is a technique that explains why you are switching topics.
In a previous blog I told you to have a number of topics you like to talk about and an open-ended question to get into that topic. Now try a lead in. It is simply a statement before the open-ended question that explains why you are asking the question.
Topic: Adventure
Lead in: You strike me as possibly being an adventurous person.
Open-ended Q: What was the last adventurous thing you have done?
Topic: Passion
Lead in: The most fascinating thing about meeting new people is finding out what they are passionate about.
Open-ended Q: What are you really passionate about?
You can cut right to deep interesting questions if you use a lead in. Otherwise questions like the above alone can bee too much.
You in fact should have a lead-in in your head when you are approaching or asking any question. It is basically the reason you are doing what you are doing or why you’re asking. Even if you don’t verbalize the reason or the lead in, having it in the back of your head makes you more genuine and able to respond to their question of “why are you asking me that”, whether they say it or just think it.
So try a lead in the next time you want to start a new topic of conversation!
August 30th, 2006 at 4:33 pm
I like this approach, and find it especially helpful for getting through the first few back-and-forths of a conversation before the conversation, as it sometimes does, takes on a life of its own.
August 31st, 2006 at 7:44 pm
you are so money you should be in a vault.
September 2nd, 2006 at 9:43 am
Hey man, this is some awesome stuff. I used lead-in last night on my second day of sarging and it just worked!
This was my real bottle neck on my first day of going out, introducing a new topic. But this stuff is gold.
So thanks and keep up the good work!