Preparation

As you explore new ways to share your gift you may find it helpful to reflect on your current skills and where you would like to improve. Some questions you might ask yourself are:

• Where am I already sharing my gift with others?
• What areas would I like to make an improvement?
• Are there any friends or role models in my life that are good conversationalists that I could get tips and feedback from?
• When in conversation am I hoping for something in return or waiting to talk about myself rather than understanding the other person?
• Is there anyone I could reach out to right now that I could share my gift with?
  

You will find it is easier to have a gift mindset if you regularly practice acts of kindness in your everyday interactions. These can be simple such as giving a small gift, smiling or waving to others, or courtesies such as holding the door for the next person. You may wish to incorporate more significant acts such as volunteering or donating time and money to worthy causes. These acts remind us to be more considerate and patient with others just as we hope they will be towards us. Best of all they often have an equally positive effect on the giver as much as the receiver. 

Prepare interesting and revealing answers to common questions such as “what do you do for work” or “where you are from” that contain your interests or expand the conversation. Some examples:

• I am originally from Clevelnd, home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What type of music are you into?
• I currently work in sales for an insurance company but my real passion is music production. What are your passions or interests?

Knowing some current events or cultural trends can help uncover common interests and add to the conversation. Since headline news is often negative, spend more time searching subjects such as music, science, sports, or pop culture that you both might find interesting  or uplifting.

One way to attract attention or add to the conversation is with conversation pieces  such as clothing, accessories, or buttons/pins that reveal your interests or personality. A friendly pet is often a popular people magnet.

Fresh breath and/or tastefully applied scents positively affect mood, emotion, and perception.

Studies suggest that watching something funny before you are social with others positively changes how you feel when you talk with them.