Keep Your Small Talk Alive Using FORM Method

Keeping a conversation alive can be challenging. If you've ever found yourself stuck with conversation topics, you should read this.

Naturally, I'm an introvert. Starting a conversation or networking is something that I'll avoid if I could. But as I get older (and I believed wiser), I think I'm getting better at it.

How?

I got to know about a technique to keep conversations alive. It's called the FORM method. It's a series of prompts I use to fill in the conversation. Very useful especially when it gets into the krik krik krik (awkward silence) mode.

FORM stands for;

• Family or Friends

• Occupation

• Recreation

• Motivation

I've been using these prompts to get to know people better. By doing that, I also actually managed to listen more than I need to talk. 

1. Family & Friends

These are the topic that the majority of people love most. Ask them about how their family is doing, and at the same time share about yours too. 

There are plenty of topics related to family/friends that you can talk about and ask about. 

2. Occupation

When you start talking about occupation, there'll be a wide range of potential topics you can further dive into with your conversation partner. Do you know whether they are currently at work, or looking for new opportunities?

While writing this, I can think of at least 10 different topics that you can actually elaborate on further and get the conversations alive. 

• What do they do?

• Does their occupation relate to their field of studies?

• Is it fun?

• Are they happy?

Just giving you some ideas. What if they don't have a job? It's ok, there are still plenty of questions you can initiate, such as:

• Have they found any job openings?

• What is their last occupation?

• Their future plan?

• How many interviews they have gone to?

• Can you share vacancy information with them?

3. Recreation

Recreation here means getting to know and talking about interests and hobbies. Who knows that you might have a few common interests with them. 

Even if your interest is not the same, it's what makes your conversation can be more interesting. Learn about their hobbies, then share about yours. If you happen to find that they support the same sports team as you do, you might actually end up with a lifelong friendship from that initial 'small talk'.

4. Motivation

This is the final prompt in this method. It's M for motivation.

Motivation, dreams, ambition, no matter big or small, each one of us has that desire to achieve our goals. Ask them about what drives them to do what they are doing. 

What is their aspiration?

What is their childhood dream?

There are plenty of questions related to motivation you can ask and further extend the conversation. 

Any of these questions will later provide you with plenty of potential topics. Use it when meeting someone new or with those you meet on regular basis. Use this method with your colleagues. You'll never know that they are actually still many things we don't know about them, and you haven't shared with them.

Explore the topics. It could be all 4 (FORM) or maybe only one or two topics that stick. It doesn't matter, as it's still better than being silent.

If you're struggling with making small talk like I did last time, do consider using this FORM method, and be amazed at how that small talk can prolong.

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