Debra Fine

Bestselling author of The Fine Art of Small Talk How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Networking Skills and Leave a Positive Impression (Hachette), keynote speaker, and trainer, Fine began her career as an engineer. Now a long time member of the National Speakers Association, Fine designs her virtual and face-to-face programs and researches her books to teach leaders, professional services, membership organizations and front-line staff conversation and rapport building skills and business networking techniques that help to develop meaningful business relationships, increase visibility, gain referrals and whether virtually, using the phone feature on one’s phone or face to face.

Whether directing a WebEx meeting or discussing a project on the phone, are you able to cultivate connections with team members, colleagues and staff? Developing rapport and building business relationships is always important, but thanks to virtual engagement more challenging than ever. This interactive, fast-paced program offers tools and tips for launching better conversations, enhancing a positive culture, and making the most of virtual opportunities.

Join Debra Fine for her fast-paced, interactive, and entertaining presentation The Fine Art of Small Talk. Together we’ll laugh, learn and leave with insightful and informative conversation tips and techniques on how to strike up conversations and keep them going, avoid conversation “killers”, exit conversations with grace and develop business, non-profit, volunteer, and personal relationships. Learn how to turn every meeting or conference, interaction with a client or colleague, social event with a spouse/partner, and networking event into an opportunity for success.

Focus on rapport-building techniques, conversation, and mingling skills, gaining visibility, making a positive impression, and networking tips that help build face to face business relationships. Presentations are informative, interactive, and entertaining; tailored to the priorities and challenges of those in the audience. Participants learn how to:

Approach new people
Quickly establish rapport and converse easily with new acquaintances
Start conversations and keep them going
Avoid sending contradictory or confusing signals about yourself
Employ easy-to-use “active” listening techniques that will make communication more effective and help clarify the meaning behind the message
Exhibit positive basic body language
Prevent the most common conversation blunders that create a negative impression
Master introductions and remember names
Make an unforgettable positive first impression
Demonstrate that you’re a positive and self-confident professional
Turn every business meeting, conference, and interaction into an opportunity for success
Experience more ease at business conferences, networking occasions, receptions and meetings
Exit conversations with grace

“A desk is a dangerous place to view the world” John Le Carre Author

Leaders learn the technical skills required for career success, often overlooking the importance of conversation and rapport building skills. The ability to talk easily with anyone is a learned skill, not a personality trait. Acquiring it will help develop rapport within organizations, raise visibility, and create liaisons with the community at large and leaving a positive impression that lasts longer than an exchange of business cards. In the competitive world of business, more emphasis is placed on developing personal business relationships than has been expected in the past. The leader who avoids opportunities to meet new people or whose conversation is frozen by these meetings will limit themselves professionally as well as personally.

Attendees will gain the tools to:

Strike up conversations and keep them going
Master introductions and remember names
Come across as composed and self-assured when talking to people or entertaining clients at conventions, trade shows, and other work-related functions
Develop a rapport with stakeholders.
Become an “active” listener
Overcome communication barriers
Handle awkward situations
Come up with topics to discuss
Avoid conversation “killers”
Prepare for successful conversation
Exit conversations with grace
Feel more at ease at award receptions, banquets, receptions and networking events

Join Debra Fine, former engineer, now nationally recognized keynote speaker, trainer, and bestselling author, for her fast-paced, interactive and entertaining presentation. Together we’ll laugh, learn and leave with insightful and informative conversation skills and networking techniques on how to strike up conversations and keep them going, avoid conversation “killers”, and come across as composed and self-assured when interacting with colleagues, department heads, administration and the community at large at meetings and presentations, networking events and other institution related functions.