How my trip to New York helped me become a better communicator

This experience reminded me of the importance of being able to think quickly and adapt to different situations, whether it’s in a comedy club or in a business meeting. As a result, it’s a skill that I’m now actively working on improving in both my personal and professional life.

Something else I learned was the importance of using your network and making new connections. In a city like New York, where there is an infinite number of things to do and see, the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. Because of this, you learn to rely on personal endorsements and your network to navigate the city effectively.

This trip provided me with a valuable opportunity to both use and expand my network. I was fortunate enough to receive some great recommendations from colleagues and friends for restaurants, shows, museums and galleries. But not just from people I knew, but from strangers too.

One evening, while my friend and I were hesitating outside Joe Allen restaurant near Times Square, a woman who was just leaving, insisted that we go in, saying succinctly: “great food, not too expensive”. Her recommendation made our choice easy, and she was right – we had an amazing experience.

I believe these moments of connection are more frequent in New York City. Strangers aren’t afraid to strike up a conversation. As Brits, we often shy away from these sorts of interactions.

According to a recent poll commissioned by the Samaritans, 94% of respondents said they did not have a go-to question when it comes to small talk. And almost half of British adults say they avoid engaging with strangers to prevent small talk. But when casual small talk is embedded in the culture of a place, it creates a sense of community. You instantly feel more welcomed and as though you, too, might have something interesting to contribute to this melting pot of cultures.

Whether I will be adopting this approach to networking myself remains to be seen. I don’t think I’ll be jumping at the chance to chat to a stranger on the Tube any time soon. But this experience has given me a newfound appreciation for the impact everyday connections with strangers can have.

From the world of improv comedy to learning to use and expand my network, every moment in the city taught me something new about effective communication.

This trip was invaluable both personally and professionally and I would highly recommend to my colleagues to take advantage of similar opportunities if they have the chance.