Table of Contents

Introduction ..... 1
Chapter 1: Schmooze or Lose: Why We Need Conversation to Succeed ..... 5
Chapter 2: The Banquet of Banter is a Potluck ..... 13
Chapter 3: ConverSensations: How Do They Do It? ..... 31
Chapter 4: Even If You are Not Shy ... Read This ..... 45
Chapter 5: Reading Your Way to Great Conversation ..... 63
Chapter 6: Hear, Hear - Lend Me Your Ear ..... 73
Chapter 7: Surely You Jest! ..... 93
Chapter 8: How to Shine in a Crowd ..... 105
Chapter 9: Working the Virtual Chat Room: On-Line, Not Out-of-Line ..... 139
Chapter 10: Talk Targets: Becoming a Magnet ..... 157
Chapter 11: Conversation Killers: What Not to Say ..... 173
Chapter 12: Coping with Conversation Killers: End It or Mend It ..... 191
Chapter 13: How to Converse in a Diverse World and Workplace ..... 211
Chapter 14: Ten Commandments of Conversation ..... 233
Index ..... 261