In a recent sermon I referred to a list of five ways to start a conversation. I have this list on my iPhone so that I can use it in whatever social setting I find myself. The five questions are below and they are an acrostic which makes it even better in my books. I read this in a book years ago but I do not remember the source.
S.P.E.A.K. — five ways to start a conversation.S – Tell me your Story. That’s the first question you ask in starting a conversation. What’s your story? They’ll start where they want to. That question will often take the entire evening and they’ll think you are a brilliant conversationalist. All you have to do is just get them started. People love to talk about themselves.
P – What’s your Passion? That means what do you love to do? You don’t even have to use the word “passion.” Just, What do you like to do? What turns your crank? What are you interested in What gets you up in the morning? What revs your engine? What do you love to do? What are your interests? Tell me your story, what’s your passion? People love to talk about their passion because they’re passionate about it.
E – Encourage. Once you know their story and their passion, then you encourage them in that area. Just encourage them. One of the greatest things you can do for people is to say, “You know what you’d be good at…” You listen to their story and you hear their passion and say “You know what you’d be good at…” and you tell them. People’s lives have been changed by that one sentence. “Do you know what you’d be good at?” Especially children and young people. We can never see in ourselves what other people see in us. It takes somebody from the outside to tell us.
A – Assistance. How can I help you? That’s the most Christ like question you can ask a person. How can I serve you? How can I help you? How can I benefit you? Study how many times Jesus, in the Bible, when people had come to Him, He would say to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” It is learning to be a servant. How can I assist you?
K – Knowledge. As I’ve listened to what their story is, their passion I think, What do they know that I need to know? Or, Who do they know that I need to know? I have learned and met more people just through that question.