Perfect Phrases for Icebreakers: Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases to Set the Stage for Productive Conversations, Meetings, and Events

Perfect Phrases for Icebreakers: Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases to Set the Stage for Productive Conversations, Meetings, and Events

by Meryl Runion, Diane Windingland
Released January 2012
Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
ISBN: 9780071783835

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Book description

The Right Phrase for Every Situation . . . Every Time

You know that how you begin a business conversation or meeting sets the stage for success. But coming up with just the right words can be another matter. Perfect Phrases for Icebreakers has hundreds of ready-to-use phrases to get your interactions off on the right foot. From jump-starting meetings to motivating teams to turning any situation into a positive networking event, this streamlined guide provides you with the right words to:

  • Highlight important topics in meetings or conversations
  • Motivate people to share resources and support
  • Add levity to personal or group interactions
  • Inspire collaboration and creativity
  • Pique curiosity about your message

Table of contents

  1. Cover Page
  2. Perfect Phrases™ for Icebreakers
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Contents
  5. Foreword
  6. Preface
  7. Acknowledgments
  8. Introduction
    1. The Opening to a Book about Openings
    2. Your First Step Matters Most
    3. The New World of Business Relating
    4. Purpose-Driven Icebreakers Trump the Trite
    5. The Power of Preparation
    6. Extroverts Don’t Own Ice Breaking
    7. The Effectiveness of Perfectly Phrased Questions
    8. How to Use This Book
  9. Section 1 Why: Purpose-Driven Icebreakers
    1. Perfect Phrases to Highlight the Conversation or Meeting Topic
    2. Perfect Phrases to Uncover Assumptions, Desires, and Expectations
    3. Perfect Phrases to Get People to Focus on Outcomes
    4. Perfect Phrases to Build Rapport
    5. Perfect Phrases to Inspire Collaboration
    6. Perfect Phrases to Pique Curiosity in Your Message
    7. Perfect Phrases to Expand Limited Mindsets
    8. Perfect Phrases to Transform Resistance
    9. Perfect Phrases to Inspire People to Share Resources and Support
    10. Perfect Phrases to Get People Asking Good Questions
    11. Perfect Phrases to Initiate Spontaneous Interaction
    12. Perfect Phrases to Encourage Engagement and Participation
    13. Perfect Phrases to Encourage Openness, Authenticity, and Airing Concerns
    14. Perfect Phrases to Initiate Feedback
    15. Perfect Phrases to Initiate Creative Brainstorming
    16. Perfect Phrases to Add Levity to a Conversation or Meeting
    17. Perfect Phrases to Get Current Since the Last Conversation or Gathering
    18. Perfect Phrases to Give a Conversation or Meeting Overview
    19. Perfect Phrases to Learn about People
    20. Perfect Phrases to Help People Remember Names
    21. Perfect Phrases to Uncover Strengths and Talents
    22. Perfect Phrases to Inspire Performance Excellence
    23. Perfect Phrases to Acknowledge Someone Going through Major Change
    24. Perfect Phrases to Acknowledge Challenges from Change
    25. Perfect Phrases to Introduce Sensitive Subjects
  10. Section 2 How: Method-Driven Icebreakers
    1. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Questions
    2. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Humor
    3. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Self-Disclosure
    4. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with General Observations
    5. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Introductions
    6. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Business Cards and Name Tags
    7. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Listening Phrases
    8. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Appreciation
    9. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Interest
    10. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Stories
    11. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Activities
  11. Section 3 Who: People-Driven Icebreakers
    1. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice When Interviewing Job Candidates
    2. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with New Employees
    3. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with New Colleagues and Associates
    4. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Supervisors and Leaders
    5. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with People Lower on Your Org Chart
    6. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Industry Professionals
    7. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Service People
    8. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Suppliers
    9. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Potential Strategic Partners
    10. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Potential Customers and Clients
    11. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Gatekeepers
    12. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with Competitors
    13. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with People from Other Cultures
    14. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with People with Disabilities
    15. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice When You Have a Disability
    16. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice with People Who Can Help You Succeed
  12. Section 4 What: Topic-Driven Icebreakers
    1. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Weather
    2. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Recreation and Hobbies
    3. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Clothes
    4. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Professional Sports
    5. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Family
    6. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Current Events
    7. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Movies and Entertainment
    8. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Books
    9. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Technology
    10. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Immediately Shared Experiences
    11. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Success
    12. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Possibilities
    13. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Mistakes and Learning Experiences
    14. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Desired Outcomes
    15. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Best Practices
    16. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Personality and Communication Styles
    17. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Personal Traits
    18. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about What We’re Proud Of
    19. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Holidays
    20. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Preferences and Peeves
    21. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Attitudes
    22. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Words
    23. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Responsibility and Accountability
    24. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice by Talking about Doubts, Worries, and Concerns
  13. Section 5 When and Where: Situation and Location-Based Icebreakers
    1. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Networking Events
    2. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Professional and Industry Gatherings
    3. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Office Socials
    4. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Industry Parties
    5. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Lunch and Dinner Meetings
    6. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Board Meetings
    7. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Business Meetings
    8. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Association Meetings
    9. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Conferences
    10. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Training Events
    11. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at New Employee Orientation—Employers
    12. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at New Employee Orientation—Employees
    13. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Routine Staff Meetings
    14. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Intermittent Meetings
    15. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Procedural Update Meetings
    16. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Budget Meetings
    17. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at Strategic Meetings
    18. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice at New Team Formation Meetings
    19. Perfect Phrases to Break the Ice Online
  14. Summary and Conclusion
  15. Appendix Phrases to Find Partners and Form Groups

Product information

  • Title: Perfect Phrases for Icebreakers: Hundreds of Ready-to-Use Phrases to Set the Stage for Productive Conversations, Meetings, and Events
  • Author(s): Meryl Runion, Diane Windingland
  • Release date: January 2012
  • Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
  • ISBN: 9780071783835