In two prior posts, here and here, we discussed ways to structure conversations, even everyday ad hoc conversations, to achieve your objectives. Every conversation is an opportunity to build relationships, to coordinate activities, to plan for the future, to sell your ideas, to get ideas, or to recap the past.

Today, we will discuss a method designed to start a conversation with nearly everyone, even strangers. It’s called the OSA method and it’s ripped from Marni Kinrys’ Wing Girl site.

OSA stands for Observe, Share, and Ask. Basically, that’s it.

Make an observation…any observation…on anything. This corresponds to the Objective Observation step in the ORID framework described in Part 1. Just a true statement, from your point of view, about anything. “Wow. Those muffins smell good.”

Next, share something about yourself, hopefully, tied to the observation. The sharing statement answers, “Why am I talking to you?” This sharing lets the person know more about you. Note that they have not had to respond at all yet. You are adding information about yourself to the information pool prior to asking them to share. This brings her into your world. “I come in here every day for muffins and coffee.” Think of the Reflective and Interpretive steps of the ORID.

The final step is to ask an open-end question. You are really asking the other party to take part in the conversation and to add to the information pool.  I like to use “what” and “how” questions.

You can then use their responses to move to an ORID conversation.

That’s it. OSA simplifies networking and just about any conversation. Try it today.