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Initiate new topics

 

Techniques > Conversation techniques > Steering the conversation > Initiate new topics

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

 

Description

Change the subject, starting some discussion about something other than the previous topic.

Find a point to interrupt and start the new conversation. This is often a good thing to do when the discussion is flagging and people are beginning to repeat themselves.

If you are not easily able to start new topics, you could prepare beforehand with a topic list.

Example

Well, that's that...So what shall we do tomorrow?

Hey, did anyone see Jeopardy last night?

This is getting boring. Let's hatch a plot to assassinate the president. I think feeding him 544 peanuts should work.

Discussion

Changing the subject is an act of control in a conversation and thus positions you in a position of relative power.

Initiating a new topic when conversation is slowing down shows initiative and ability to sustain the conversation. This will also position you as a relative social leader.

As the initiator, you will gain more attention as the assumption will be made that you have a particular interest in this topic. This will help keep you as the focus of attention and so able to steer further the direction of the conversation.

See also

Interrupting, Sustaining the conversation

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed