Module 2/4 24 min
Expanding without the awkwardness
Step 1 / 2·Three openers that work anywhere
0/2 steps done
Learning objectives — after this module you will:
- Start a conversation without awkwardness
- Write a connection request that gets accepted
- End a conversation while keeping contact alive
Learn ~10 min
Three openers that work anywhere
Have the tool ready instead of improvising.
Openers by context
| Context | Opener |
|---|---|
| An event or conference | 'What did you make of that session? I wasn't sure about the part on X.' — ask about the content, not about them personally |
| Introduced by a third party | 'Nam mentioned you work on Y — I'm dealing with that exact problem at my end.' — lead with the common ground |
| Messaging a stranger on a professional network | 'I read your piece on Z. What you said about… matches what I'm seeing. Could I ask one short question if you have two minutes?' |
Never open with a favour
'Could you refer me into your company' in a first message is almost always ignored. A request needs an existing relationship, however thin, to rest on.