5 Conversation Starters to Break the Ice on a Business Trip
Never have an awkward moment with these conversation starters
These easy ideas can keep conversations with co-workers from going cold.
Most of us have been in a business meeting or at cocktails with a co-worker or colleague when things have taken a turn toward awkward. After all, our co-workers and clients usually aren’t our best friends; sometimes we don’t even know them at all before we’re wheels up. So what’s a savvy business traveler to do? Use these conversation starters from etiquette and business experts, and you’ll break the ice as seamlessly as possible.
We’re not recommending that you pull an all-nighter putting together a dossier on your business colleague. We are suggesting that a quick Google search or a quick scroll down a Facebook page can be beneficial. “If I find out that my colleague is interested in football, I do enough research to have an opinion or a few questions to ask him or her,” says Carrie Wood, chief marketing officer for Lease Ref, who often travels with co-workers. “Nothing breaks the ice more than showing an interest in something your colleague loves.”
Technically, you’ll be out of the office, so it’s natural to want to relax and unwind. But talking shop is a great way to break the ice and can ultimately spark productive business conversations. “By openly discussing the goals and objectives for the visit, a team mentality forms,” says Clark Covington, who travels frequently for his job with software company Workzone. “This allows for not only more comfort with each other, but also better teamwork at meetings or on-site visits.”
There’s a reason seven-figure deals have often been made on the golf course. While most business travelers don’t have hours to spend on the greens, activity-based meetings are a great way to kick up the charisma. Teams that play together stay together, right? Skip the sit-down sessions and meet at a ballgame or a brewery that offers lawn games, or somewhere with an activity that offers a teambuilding experience. You might find that the icebreaking happens on its own.
Despite the best planning, business trips can still leave you tongue-tied. San Francisco-based etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts suggests playing a game—one in particular. “The alphabet game is what Eleanor Roosevelt did while she was first lady. She went down the alphabet until a subject sparked a listener’s interest, starting with A. For example, A: Airline travel is not what it used to be. B: Have you read Dan Brown’s latest novel? C: I hope the Chicago Cubs make it to the World Series.”
Hear those crickets loudly chirping? That’s the sound of a business meeting gone cold. The good news? This is normal. The better news: You can salvage an awkward business interaction—and break the ice all over again—by addressing the elephant in the room. If you’re stuck in a car, ask your colleague if they’d like to chat or if they’d rather get some rest. This will help you manage expectations—and could possibly strike up a conversation about the red-eye your client took to meet you.
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