SMALL TALK

Small talk, the light and informal conversation, is commonly used when you’re talking to someone you don’t know very well and at networking and social events. We all accept that small talk is integral to our success. Whether you’re networking, speaking with a new prospect or warming up a customer before upselling them you must be able to build rapport with casual conversation. Without small talk, you seldom get to the real conversation, so the following strategies could help you make a small talk in any situation.

1. ............................................................................. . Most people enjoy talking about themselves. It is easier to discuss yourself than something you know little about. Open-ended questions create an interesting, dynamic conversation and encourage the person you’re speaking with to open up.

2. ............................................................................. . During small talk the other person will notice how engaged you seem. Besides, it is much easier to ask relevant questions and remember details to bring up later when you listen actively.

3. ............................................................................. . We tend to pull out our phones when we’re feeling uncomfortable or strange in social situations, but nothing will sabotage your conversational efforts more quickly. Few people will approach you if you’re scrolling through your phone – and you’ll send a plain message to anyone you’re already talking to that you’re not interested.

4. ............................................................................. . Small talk may not always be the most stress-free activity. However, if you go into it with the correct manner, you can actually have fun. Having good small-talk topics won’t just help you start great conversations, it’ll also lessen some of the anxiety of walking into an unknown environment. The suggested topics are as follows:

• The location: Discuss your surroundings.

• Entertainment: Talk about what you’ve enjoyed so far and what’s on your list.

• Art: If the person you’re speaking to loves art, ask them which museums they’ve gone to and would like to visit, their favourite exhibits and which artists they enjoy.

• Food: Food is one of the best small-talk topics, since almost everyone loves to eat.

• Hobbies: Delve into the other person’s passions. They’ll be eager to talk about what they love, and you’ll get the chance to connect with them at a deeper level.

• Work: Work is a good small-talk topic because the vast majority of people have something to say about

it.

• Weather: Weather is another important small-talk topic. Get them talking about the climate in their hometown.

It doesn’t matter how bad you are at small talk. With practice and the right strategies, you can improve. Bear in mind that small talk is a skill just like any other.

Adapted from the Huffingtonpost and Hubspot websites