What can you do to give yourself an advantage when striking up a conversation? Let's spend a little bit of time talking about the different levels on which we communicate.

Small talk means a very superficial conversation about the weather, the traffic, current events, etc. While this may seem purposeless, it isn't. This is our chance to size up another person and decide whether you have something in common. You don't know the other person and you aren't expected to reveal anything personal about yourself.

We are aware of a young teenager who had a hard time in conversation with people her own age (especially boys!). She decided that since lots of the boys she knew were interested in sports, it would be a good idea to learn about some of the sports they enjoyed, and to be able to talk about them. Not only did she manage to attract lots of new friends, she also found out how much she enjoyed sports at the same time. This technique was something that she shared with her girlfriends. Taking an interest in other people and the things they are passionate about is a great way to get into a conversation.