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View Full Version : Conversation skills: "The Statement Game"


Maverick
01-20-2007, 10:32 AM
I hate this weather, It's -20c here. I might as well be sitting in an igloo w/ my laptop plugged into a polar bear. All I can think about is the Under21Convention in Florida this June where I'll have two hb10's and Sovereign sitting on my lap to keep me warm. That being said... on with the topic.

It's been far too long since i've made a genuine effort to post something new. However i've gotten alot of questions lately regarding conversation. So i'm working on a new series that deals directly with how to get people engaged and keep their attention. This isn't only applicable to game, but everyday life as well.

If i had a quarter for every time I couldn't think of something to say, when i first started this i'd be a millionaire. I actually stumbled upon this by mistake at one of our workshops when a student of ours kept stalling and wasn't sure where to go from an introduction and light rapport building.

We sat down together and started telling each other stories about bombing and different wild thigns we've done in clubs. Then it hit me... what i'm doing with him, is what he could be doing to the girl! Speaking in statement form naturally builds raport because it's what we do with people we're already comfortable with.

Pay close attention to how you speak next time you're talking to somebody you're comfortable with. You rarely speak in question form. 90% of the conversation is storytelling. You're not digging for information because you already have it, you're also comfortable because you don't feel the need to be validated by this person - they already like you!

Now how can we automatically jump into statement form with a stranger in a social setting without it appearing awkward. You could randomly go up to a girl in a bar, and after your opener start telling her about the great movie you saw last night. But why should she care? You'll get shut out.

So, you still need to follow the logical transition from opening to building attraction, but after that point you can introduce "The Statement Game".

Isolate the girl.

_________
"Hey, remember that game 20 questions? My buddy came up with a variation of that the other day as part of a psych study. I'm gonna teach you something cool. Ever notice how people who aren't comfortable with each other speak in question form, but people who are comfortable with each other speak in statement form?"

*Note the subtleties? You ARE speaking in statement form, therefore you must be comfortable with each other*

"So he came up with this game. It's called the statement game. It's a bit of a challenge though. You have to be a bit of a story teller. In the game, we go back and forth telling interesting facts or stories about ourselves. Then, you try and "one up" me. We'll see who gets the farthest. I'll go first."
________

The nice thing about the game is that it employs alot of very subtle comfort building strategies without appearing try hard. Also, you don't need to worry about keeping track of conversational threads because after about 2 rounds you'll be carrying on a natural conversation anyway. You've also just found a way of DHV'ing again and again and again without appearing like you're bragging. The conversation will flow naturally and you'll build up rapport faster than you can possibly imagine.

Next topic: Using Void theory and Anchoring

Cheers.
- Maverick
www.lifestyleimaging.net

Vincent Chase
01-20-2007, 10:43 AM
Under21Convention in Florida this June

BTW, You're all invited. Try not fuck with the hotel staff too much please, though.

Maverick
01-20-2007, 11:50 AM
More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Cheers.
- Mav

Yoda
01-20-2007, 01:10 PM
Hmm usually even when I'm with friends I ask a few questions to get the conversation started, stuff like: So what have you been up to lately, or did you see the game?

Would you ask a few general questions first so that you'll know what to talk about when making your "statements?"

Mojo
01-20-2007, 01:42 PM
Speaking in statements does help build a connection.

Remember a time when you just met a girl and you two talk all night. It seemed like you two have known each other for years. You were probably talking in statements. Why does it build such solid comfort?

What is happening is that by talking in statements, you are sending signals to your brain that you have know this person for a long time. This is how old friends talk; in statements. The opposite is true when you talk using questions. You are killing rapport. You are telling your brain this is a person you just met, so you are in a different, a bit more guarded, mindset. Yes, use key questions sparingly to open or move the conversation along. But try to use more statements. And see the magic happen. :cool:

Yoda
01-20-2007, 03:36 PM
I'm interested in this technique, what kind of statements would you make to be able hold the conversation with just statements?

leslav
01-20-2007, 03:55 PM
It's natural. Whatever question you were going to ask, turn it into a statement. Even if you're off wrong, it still accomplishes the same thing.

An example from Sinn/Vision interview on qualification.

A standard medium hoop is "What nationality are you?"

Instead of a question you can say "You look very [whatever nationality]." Or "You have a very ethnic look to you... Eastern Europe maybe." Then let her tell you what ethnicity she is, and go into the Bait/hook reel release structure.

You can do this with pretty much anything.

Maverick
01-20-2007, 10:04 PM
It's natural. Whatever question you were going to ask, turn it into a statement. Even if you're off wrong, it still accomplishes the same thing.

An example from Sinn/Vision interview on qualification.

A standard medium hoop is "What nationality are you?"

Instead of a question you can say "You look very [whatever nationality]." Or "You have a very ethnic look to you... Eastern Europe maybe." Then let her tell you what ethnicity she is, and go into the Bait/hook reel release structure.

You can do this with pretty much anything.

The method isn't just about making random statements. Yeah, you can do that with everything. it's a simple way of getting into a natural conversation that allows you to develop rapport on a more deep level. For the most part, finding stuff in common is hit or miss. With this method she'll tell you something she's interested in and you can feed off that.

Her: "Last year I went camping with my girlfriends. It was late at night and we all went skinny dipping when we realized there was a whole family sitting on the beach watch us! It was the most embarrasing moment of my life."

Me: "Omg! Get out! you're into camping! That's awesome. A couple years ago i was in northern ontario doing some backpacking. it was winter and damn cold out! We built an igloo to sleep in. It's the most amazing thing waking up inside an ingloo. It's like being inside a snowglobe! Except it gets really hot in there and the walls melt. It was +5 inside the igloo and -40 outside. We had our packs in front of the door to block the wind but when we kicked it down everything flash froze! All my shit was soaking wet and now frozen. I had to hike up a hill to thaw everything out at a fire. It was ridiculous. But I loved it, and i'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Her: "Wow ... actually when I was little i used to go camping with my family alot..."

and it goes on.

This isn't an allmight trick to fake rapport. It's a tool to build REAL rapport. The fact that speaking in statement form builds comfort is just an added bonus.

As for I'm interested in this technique, what kind of statements would you make to be able hold the conversation with just statements?
.... your example is right above.

Write back if you ahve any specific questions.

Cheers.
- Mav

Satan
01-23-2007, 06:12 PM
Juggler said something like, "you can use your best routine yet I'll be more interesting reading out the shopping list".

Most people are boring, they shoot themselves in the foot when it comes to convosation.

Joe average will talk like,

Joe. My dog run away earlier.

He just wasted a good opertunity to tell a story, it's like a badly executed karate kick. Joe could have put in emotions, which would have made it easy to for anyone to understand.

-omg the worse thing ever happened earlier... :( (hook)

I was watching tv and the room was freezing, I was actually shaking, some fool left the door open, I instantly think OMG where's patch??? :eek: I love that little dog, he's all fluffy with a sad little face, he will cheer me up when I'm down, do you know what I mean? People see my tough side, but honestly I was nearly crying, I would die if something happened to the poor fella :( I started getting really stressed thinking I'm never going to see him again. What if somethings happened to him.. I went searching the streets for him like a father who's lost his kid... Check this out, when I got home he was under the chair.

After that, I think I'll buy him a bell!

Ok, not a great example but it's still better than what av Jo uses.

After talking for a bit an SOI is perfect.

KISS. keep it simple stupid.

S*

DarkPrince
01-24-2007, 01:15 AM
(I only read the first and second post)

I Acually noticed this about me few years back. when my friend told me i spoke with questions, and He limited me with 20 questions a day.. and lets say We barely talked, because usually people start off a conversation with a question (from my experiences) and it ends up from there. For me it was and still is Challenging since I run out of stuff to say, so i just bust into a story which actually is good at the time, but when im even with freinds I run out of stories to tell. (this is with people i met for about 2 months time)

I did this and it helped me A lot of becoming itty bit social, I gotta confess though my social ability is of a 12 yr old girl since she can hold a conversation with me much longer (i noticed this one by volentearing at petsmart and these sisters were petting kittens and started to ask me if i had a pet, and it was me who ended up killing the convo)

Personally I'm starting to figure out asking a question after a statement usually ends the convo pretty quickly. also why do guys think girls talk a lot? Well, If one actually listens they usually talk about themselves.. "I would do this" or " this happened to me" "one of my friends" or "she did this and i did that" Gossip is the best way to actually speak in statements from what i have realized. I have tried this and it does Extend my conversations by 5 min. but making sure to open thred though. pick up on lil details and make a statement about it yourself " I had a pink poodle once" and so on.

The statement factor is hard as hell to master though (for me im in my getting there state, since I was Anti-Social till about 4 months ago)

Maverick what did you think of this? I don't quite think its as similar as your discovery but the same thought process, Don't you think?
Also, Whats the deal with the under21convension.. I cant belive it.. Im 21.. My B-day is in April. My luck eh? Botox should make me look younger :-D

Good luck guys
-Prince