How to Get Good at Small Talk, and Even Enjoy It
17 Nov 2023 (10 months ago)
“Small talk” is a misnomer for such an important part of communication.
- Small talk is valuable for connecting, bonding, learning, and growing.
- Approaching small talk as a collaborative effort, like hacky sack, rather than a test or tennis match, can make it enjoyable.
Establish appropriate goals.
- Aim to be interested in the conversation rather than trying to appear interesting.
- Focusing on being present in the discussion can alleviate anxiety about being judged.
Give yourself permission to pause.
- Speed is not as important as providing an appropriate response.
- Pausing and paraphrasing can help ensure you've understood the other person and provide time to compose thoughts.
What if you feel like you have nothing smart to say?
- Asking questions like "Tell me more" gives you time to think and encourages the other person to continue sharing.
What if I make a mistake or say something dumb?
- Mistakes are a natural part of spontaneous communication, which is more about connection than perfection.
- Viewing mistakes as "missed takes" provides an opportunity to try saying things in a different way.
What if my problem is that I have too much to say?
- Being concise is usually preferable in communication.
- Rather than sharing a full thought process, focus on directly answering or addressing the topic at hand.
What tools can I use if none of this is natural to me?
- Leverage structure in speech, such as the "What? So what? Now what?" technique for clarity and conciseness.
- Practicing structured communication in daily situations can make it feel more natural.
How do I get the conversation started?
- Trite phrases often used to initiate small talk do not lead to meaningful conversations.
- Initiating with context-specific observations or questions can pique curiosity and lead to a more engaging interaction.