Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This season on my podcast, Here's the Thing. I speak with musician,

photographer, and philanthropist Julian Lennon. One of the really important things that happened to me

with photography was I would have people right to me, people that couldn't financially afford

to travel the world. And what they had all said to me is that you bring

these stories to us. You bring the truth. You bring cultures that we would never necessarily

know anything about. Listen to the new season of Here's the Thing on the IHeart Radio app, Apple

podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Before Breakfast. Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of IHeartRadio.

Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to become a confident conversationalist. If you feel shy or

awkward striking up conversations or chatting with colleagues, let this be the year when you

build your skills so you can feel great about your interactions.

During my recent Better Workday Challenge,

lots of participants mentioned that they sometimes felt uncomfortable striking up conversations with their colleagues.

It felt easier to just keep their heads down

and communicate electronically.

So if you feel a little self-conscious about chit-chat,

know that you are not alone. But if you are not developing relationships with people at work,

you might be missing out. Connecting with your colleagues can make you more effective at your job.

And it can also help you feel happier and more comfortable

at work. So if you are feeling uncomfortable or shy about connecting, here are some tips.

First, friendly questions are conversational openers. Asking someone something that invites

authentic sharing, but isn't invasive, is likely to

...