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The Gainesville Sun
March 8, 2005
Tossing off sparkling dialogue to strangers can challenge even the most eloquent of us.
“If you can’t small talk, you can’t succeed in life, and you will never get a date,” says David Wygant, a Seattle-based “dating agent” who charges clients $10,000 to coach them on how to improve their social skills in meeting new people.
Wygant says small talk is an important skill that’s usually overlooked. Here are some tips that your conversation is crashing faster than ATA stock, according to clinical psychologist James Houran:
No response: Even a noncommittal “Really!” is better than an “Mm-hmm.” Disinterest tends to be expressed nonverbally, so if the person you’re talking to is responding mostly with head nods or intonations instead of words, it may be time to change the subject.
Wandering eyes: She or he is looking everywhere but at you. Avoiding eye contact is a sign of boredom or guardedness.
Hurried answers: If the other person speaks quickly and curtly, take the hint – this conversation may be over. |
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