Vanessa Van Edwards's Blog, page 2

How to Hold a Conversation With Anyone You’ve Just Met

Knowing how to start, hold, and end a conversation smoothly is one of the most important people skills you can have.

Watch our video below to learn more:

Let’s dive into the tips!

Create Conversational Intention

One of the biggest conversational mistakes is going into your events, dates, meetings, and parties without a clear direction.

You would never start driving to a new destination without the address, so why would you start a conversation without a goa...

Slop Is the New AI Spam: What It Is and How to Avoid It

Slop is the bad content created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), flooding our online spaces just as spam once did. At Science of People, we believe in harnessing technology responsibly, and that means avoiding the creation of slop.

Here’s what it is, how to stop it, and how to recognize it!

What is Slop?

Slop refers to low-quality, poorly-crafted ai-generated content. Sure, AI can be a powerful tool for generating ideas or writing out that email you’ve procrastinated on writing for d...

7 Effective Ways to Convince Someone to Do Something

Do you know how to convince someone to help you or help themselves? I want to teach you. 

Important Disclaimer: Sure, mastering these techniques can significantly enhance your communication skills and persuasive abilities. BUT it is essential to be mindful of the fine line between persuasion and manipulation.

Persuasion is about ethically influencing others by presenting logical, emotional reasoning, and credible arguments.

Manipulation, on the other hand, involve...

85 Best Zoom Backgrounds For Meetings by Category (2024)

Tired of signing on to Zoom calls with an unkept office or blank wall behind you? In the age of virtual meetings, your Zoom background is like your virtual outfit. 

Surveys show that a blank wall ranks the lowest for professionality, while a plant, art, or bookshelf background makes people seem more intelligent and approachable.

Here is everything you need to know about choosing a Zoom background, finding quality background images, and getting set up in the Zoom app. 

Why Your Zoom Back...

Be an Expert at Witty Banter…How to Charm With Your Words

Lighthearted banter could be the secret to disarming someone in your first interaction. Research shows1 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f... that banter-related humor helps people feel more relaxed while getting to know each other. Breaking the ice with light jokes or good-natured teasing can help you come across as more approachable, lighthearted, and not too serious about your public image. 

What is Witty Banter? (Definition)

Witty banter is a playful, clever, o...

250+ Quotes of the Day For Work to Motivate & Inspire You

Humans like motivation, whether they admit it or not. Everyone has something that gets them going in today’s workplace. 

For you, motivation may come from quotes. A few words from Bill Gates, Maya Angelou, or Michael Jordan can change your perspective on work and life. Studies show that motivational quotes may be a good thing1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti... for your self-esteem. Often when you uplift yourself, you also find ways to motivate...

75 Party Games For Adults That Are Guaranteed To Be A Hit

Do you want to turn a boring party or work event around and make it more interesting without getting too cheesy? Introduce a great party game to engage people, get them talking, laughing, and generally having fun. It’s also an excellent way to connect with friends and get acquainted with new ones!

And it’s not just about having fun either. Playing games also promotes teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Plus, it’s a great way to break the ice in social situations, especially i...

How to Ask Open-Ended Questions (& The 150 Best to Ask)

Did you know? When you ask someone questions about themselves, it makes you more likable1 https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/356... !

But research shows, the way you ask a question2 https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-surprisin... makes a big difference, too. 

Watch our video below to learn how to start a conversation with anyone using these killer conversation starters:

Some of the best conversations start with open-ended questions that lead people...

Emotion Maps: How Emotions Change in the Body

Imagine driving down the highway. You’re late, so you’re going a few miles over the speed limit. A jerk, going 40 miles per hour in a blue compact car cuts in front of you without using his blinker.

Can you feel the anger bubble up in your chest? The irritation burn in your throat?

A few amazing facts about this study:They did find that these body emotion maps are the same across cultures. In other words, we feel fear the same way someone in East Asia or Western...

Advice for Female Entrepreneurs from Melissa Butler, Founder of the Lip Bar

In 2012, Melissa Butler started making lipstick in her kitchen at home. She had no background in cosmetics chemistry. Now, she has a thriving beauty business and is in over 400 Target stores all over America.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a top entrepreneur? How can you start from scratch and work your way to the top? Is it even possible?

Melissa Butler has shown us what hard work, dedication, and a whole lot of hustle can do for a business. Our interview with Melissa will giv...