We all tried to befriend or be friendly to someone new before. It’s never easy coming up with an ice breaker that will make the other person interested in keeping talking to you. Once the ice is broken then you need to find common ground. Common ground will be different from person to person. Everyone likes different things, has different interests, and likes to talk about different topics that they find appealing. Not everyone can find common ground with someone or do not like talking about the same topics. Do you find it easy or hard to find common ground with someone?
Breaking the ice.
We always try to come up with something witty when talking to someone we do not know or have never met. The ice breaker can be funny yet tell the other person that we are kind of interesting or mysterious. Most people form an opinion of someone within the first three seconds of seeing a person. Then second opinion within the next ten seconds either supporting or going against their original opinion. The second opinion will be whether the other person talks to you or blows you off. So, the ice breaker you choose to talk to someone you never met before or want to get to know the ice breaker can sometimes be one of the most important things you say. Have you ever blown someone off because their ice breaker was horrible?
Finding common ground.
Finding common ground can be one of the hardest things to do especially if you do not know the other person you are talking to. Sometimes you really want to talk about the things you love but the other person might hate those things. This can also happen vice versa. Finding something that you can relate and talk with a total stranger is sometimes not the easiest thing to do. Some people have no problem because they can talk about anything, or they are really good listeners and will give very little input. Which type of person are you, a talker or listener?
Personalities get the final say.
There are many times where two people who like the same things and even act the same way just cannot get along. Both their personalities will just keep them butting heads. This also goes vice versa, sometimes opposite personalities and interests get along really well. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how friendly, or how bad you want to talk to someone, if your personalities just clash the minute you are both in the same room, then talking to them will be nearly impossible without it turning into an argument or fight. Has your personality ever clashed with someone else’s personality?
How I talk about topics I like.
Most strangers I start conversations with are the patients I meet with my job. Most of the time the only time I can really talk with someone is when it’s non-emergent transport. It starts off as small talk and sometimes develops into a bigger conservation from there. I try to notice what type of clothing someone has or picture/posters they have. Noticing the surroundings and finding something that is common ground for both of us to talk about. Sometimes it is easier said than done. There are many times I just make and bunch of small talk especially on longer transports due to the fact there is no common ground. Working EMS you learn to be very outgoing, outspoken and a really good listener. You always want to at least make small talk to your patients even when they a making threats and cussing you out.
How do you talk about a topic you really like to someone you barely know?
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