7 Conversation Starters that End Conversation

And alternatives to improve your conversational skills

Photo by Kat Jayne from Pexels

My dad has mastered the delicate art of icebreakers. During an introduction to one woman, he pointed to her stomach, smiled ruefully, and asked, “So when is the blessed event?” Unfortunately, there wasn’t an upcoming “blessed event.” The woman was not pregnant.

You only make that mistake once.

Then there was the friend who prided himself on the following pickup line…He would walk up to a woman and just say, “fat penguins.” Of course, the woman would say, “huh?” or “what?” He would then reply, “Fat penguins are a great way to break the ice.”

I watched this line work more than once until he tried it on a more voluptuous lady. She responded by slugging him with her bag. (She thought he was implying that she was a “fat penguin.”) I still think he got her number.

Poor men. Starting conversations with strangers is never easy. Most introverts would rather drive rusty nails through their molars than make small talk. When I meet someone, I want to get right to the juicy stuff. But skipping small talk is like trying to eat a delicious steak…uncooked. You have to let people heat up.

So here are a few tips for finding that perfect balance between blow torch and…