bluebirdsonly profile picture
bluebirdsonly profile picture

bluebirdsonly

Enterprise Account Executive

Fire Starter
Contributor
Good Citizen

What’s your go-to start of meeting small talk?

Ok, so ideal state it's effortless conversation from the start and there's no looking back. Or maybe their LI happens to have something highly personalised and that's an easy go-to. 

BUT - when selling to a technical audience. Tech, Product, Eng etc...

What's your go-to line?

🧠 Advice
🔍 Discovery
☁️ Software Tech
23

27 comments

Sort by:
funcoupons
WR Officer
36
👑
I like to keep it light: 

Do you believe in God? 

How much money did you make last year, before taxes? 

Did Jeffrey Epstein kill himself? 

How many people have you slept with? 

What’s your darkest deepest secret? 
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
9
Sales
If you had to kill someone on this call, who would it be and how? 
funcoupons
WR Officer
4
👑
Ooooh love that
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
2
Sales
It’s good to keep things light and fresh. 
justatopproducer
Politicker
1
VP OF SALES -US
Marry, F, kill - your mom, dog, and dad … GO!
TheLaughingWolf
WR Officer
0
Business Development Manager
Kind of
Don't really know. Will have to check my paycheck stubs
Hell No. He's still alive somewhere.
I've actually lost count. High double digits. over 75
I am no good at sales. I'm just lucky :(
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
8
☕️
“Listen; I’m not good at small talk. Shocking, since I’m in sales. However, I’d like to share a fun fact about me:…”

Give that a go. It’s my favorite since I really don’t like small talk. 
Sunbunny31
Politicker
1
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
That's a nice ice-breaker.
braintank
Politicker
7
Enterprise Account Executive
Does this look infected?
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
LOL, my first reaction was to provide a snarky response too.  Like, "how about that last election?"

"I'll take things you shouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole for $500, Alex"
Sunbunny31
Politicker
5
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Depends on how many people in the meeting, if it's a first call, or formal RFP-demo, or a follow up where you already have a good sense of the participants.   If it's formal, winding a humanizing comment into the early part of the discussion/presentation in addition to thanking them for their time and letting them know you're happy to be there work well.   If it's more casual and we're waiting for other attendees, we've been known to discuss the weather or something we see in the background of the Zoom windows.  Honestly, it varies. 
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
5
Sales
This week I’ve been using “anyone else drive their car into a concrete wall because of ice?” 

It’s timely, personal and relatable! 
Beans
Big Shot
4
Enterprise Account Executive
Something relevant from creeping their socials.
GOLFaaS
Politicker
1
Sales Leader
Yes! Maybe not too creepy but you don’t have to look long to find a thing to mention or better yet some common ground item, went to same school. Same favorite team. Same interest.
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Exactly and you don't need to be direct about it, bring up the general topic, people love to talk about shit they're passionate about. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
This one time...in band camp...
AessK
Politicker
3
SDR
Here's an example of one that you may be able to use for someone that left a big company like Amazon for a start up. It led to a really light hearted dynamic from the get go and the call went great:

Hey Bluebirds, how's it goin'?

Glad to hear it, hey before we get started with the boring sales stuff, I gotta ask ya, how's it like coming from <previous big company> to a start up like <current> company?

Usually they'll say something like "oh it's a ton of fun but things can get pretty chaotic"

Followup question can be something like, "Yeah I completely get you. You also probably have to wear a lot of hats too right?"

Then you can segue into your agenda after vibing for a min or 2. This is something I'm definitely working on as well!
bluebirdsonly
Fire Starter
1
Enterprise Account Executive
Gold! Love it!
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
As cliché as it is, of late it's been weather. 

Before everyone comes for me, the fact that it was -25 in Toronto yesterday is an icebreaker.
ChunkyButters
Tycoon
2
AE
FMK.

Me, my SDR, my SE.

They say they want to marry me, but I usually end up fucked.
Upper_Class_SaaS
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Have you ever...
Arch
Executive
2
Account Executive
Bring up something that you read recently about their business. “Saw you opened a new location” seems like great location . “Saw you hired new CEO” seems like great addition. “Saw you came from x company, what was that like”
Jewcan_Sam81
Politicker
2
Account Executive
I legit wait for everyone to be in the meeting, thank everyone, and then get down to business. If I have to wait on people I ask them some shit about their business to just focus it all on them as much as I can. Or I talk about sports or something if I'm trapped for a longer time than I'd like
NotCreativeEnough
Big Shot
1
Professional Day Ruiner
I apologize in advance for if they hear my dog bark/squeak a toy/make other random dog noises. Usually turns into everyone talking about their pets for a few minutes
countingmyinterest
Politicker
1
Account Executive
I don't usually like small talk. I wait for them to say "hi" or "hello" so I can mimic their body language and tone. 

I'll usually introduce myself, followed by a witty pronunciation guide, then say "I don't like small talk, how about we just get into it?" with an upfront contract. 

Seems to work
Pachacuti
Politicker
1
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
“So tell me - who IS your Daddy?”
Mr.Pickles
Arsonist
-2
Sr. Customer Success Manager
- Tell me the latest new thing you have done
- Tell me a secret you have not told anyone before O_O

Related posts

2

Small Talk or straight into Discovery/Pitch/Demo ?

Question
14
Small Talk or straight into Discovery/Pitch/Demo ?
58% Small Talk
12% Straight into it
30% Small Talk only if prospect starts to
50 people voted
7

When the set prospect whose meeting has been planned and booked by SDR does not join on time and expects the same 1 hour, would you or won't you lend?

Question
🏰
📬
18
8

Do you use small talk on your Friday calls?

Question
🎈
📞
16
Do you use small talk/chit chat
78% Yes
22% No
82 people voted
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
Apple Store logo
Products
The War Room Jobs Salary Guide Tech Sales U
Company
About Us How It Works Blog Bug Bounty
Contact
Press Careers
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy Legal and Privacy Center Sales Jobs
If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your ramp stipend and commission.