Networking events in person? Do you love them or do you loathe them? Are you that person that is the life and soul of the party or are you in the corner with you head bowed down, playing with your phone?

Here are 3 ways that you can start a conversation with somebody new.

1) Focus on the present. Ask them “What brought you to this event, today?” Listen. And ask follow up questions and then share what brought you.

2) Focus on the immediate future. So, in November, that could be Christmas. And you ask them “What are you up to over Christmas, what are you doing for the holidays?” and if it’s the spring, you could ask what their plans are for the summer.

3) Pay them a compliment. It’s always nice to be nice. So, you could say ”Oh, I love that necklace” or “These are really like cool glasses.” Which means the first thing you would be saying to somebody is something positive.

So there you go, three things you can say to break the ice with someone you’ve just met at a networking event.