Working the Room

 Mingling is an art, but remember what you're here for: to have fun and meet people.

Entering and Exiting Conversations

You’re trapped in a conversation with a monologuer and you’re racking your brain trying to escape.

Try it: Acknowledge what you’ve heard — “Gosh, it sounds like you really have a passion for skiing,” and then give someone a warning that the conversation is almost over. For example: “I’ve only got a couple more minutes until I need to leave” (or get a drink, or talk to someone else, or head to the bathroom), “but before I leave, what would you say is the No. 1 ingredient to training as a skier?” 

Don't Double Down if You're Not Getting What You Want

One huge conversational mistake is not picking up clues about how other people are reacting to you. But keep in mind, we all have different conversational styles.

Awkward Silences Happen

One way to avoid them is to “assume the burden of the conversation,” Ms. Fine said. “I come up with things to talk about, I take the conversation in another direction. It’s not only about questions. If you’re talking about golf and I don’t care about it, I might use self-disclosure to change the topic, and say, ‘Golf isn’t my thing, but I really like to cycle.’ Or, if someone asks me about something sad or bad, I’ll throw the conversational ball back and say, ‘I just can’t talk about that right now, but what’s going on in your life?’”