This was a real question someone asked in
one of our community networking sessions recently.
↳They were nervous.
↳They didn’t know what to say on a networking call.
↳They were afraid of messing up.
They didn’t know how to start a conversation.
And honestly?
They’re not alone.
So many people DM me with the same fear:
↳“What if I say the wrong thing?”
↳“What if I freeze up?”
↳“What if I come across as awkward?”
Here’s the truth:
If you don’t know how to communicate —
↳You’ll struggle to
↳make friends,
↳clients,
↳or deals.
It’s that simple.
I had asked the same thing once on my podcast with Himanshu.
And it comes down to just two types of conversations:
→ 1-to-1
→ 1-to-many
And in both cases, there are 3 simple things that matter the most:
Listening Skills – If you truly listen, you’ll understand people better. You’ll connect better.
Speaking Skills – Be clear. Be concise. Don’t try to sound smart — just be real.
Body Language – Eye contact, posture, even a smile — they speak louder than words.
If it’s a group conversation (1-to-many),
Add one more thing:
→ Be hyper-aware.
Notice :
↳who’s responding,
↳who’s distracted,
↳and who’s curious.
Adjust your tone and words based on that.
It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about being present.
And the more you do it, the better you get.
So if you’re scared of talking to people?
↳Start small.
↳Start messy.
↳Just start.
That’s how you learn.
PS: I have learned all through my podcasting.
This post was originally shared by on Linkedin.