Many of us regularly attend networking events, mingle with colleagues and potential clients, pass out business cards, follow up and hope to gain a little business from each event. But, if you stop to think about the daily encounters you have with strangers, from elevator rides to standing in line at the grocery store, your opportunities to network are exponential. Finding leads among strangers isn't easy, and it takes a certain boldness in personality, but with the tips below, you'll be well on your way:

Start With A Common Topic

Open the door to a conversation by finding the common ground. Small talk cliches are great here - try weather, holidays and events, how you each know an event host. Your first impression should be a positive one. Save complaining for another time.

Ask Open-Ended Questions

If you ask a question that only requires a "yes" or "no" answer, you'll probably get a very short response. Instead of, "Have you attended this event before?", try something along the lines of, "What do you think of this event?" When your conversation partner answers with their thoughts, you can find something in their statement to grab onto to keep the conversation flowing.

Give A Sincere Compliment

Who doesn't love receiving a compliment? The trick here is to compliment physical appearance or clothing only as a last resort. So wait until you've been involved in conversation for a few minutes and you can get an idea of your new friend's personality or talent. Try "It sounds like you're very successful," or, "You're very easy to talk to."

Share Opportunities

As you learn more about someone, look for ways you can help them instead of looking for business opportunities for yourself. You'll be building a more positive impression for yourself, which is much more likely to generate business than looking opportunistic.