Dont Sweat The Small Stuff: How To Excel At Small Talk And Even Enjoy It Stanford Graduate School Of Business

They create space for honest answers without pressure or judgment. When we ask thoughtful questions, we show genuine interest in others’ lives, experiences, and perspectives. These 191 carefully chosen questions will help open up genuine dialogues that create lasting bonds.

• When someone shares something, repeat the last 1-3 words they said.
• Take note of the other person’s tone and facial expression.
• As you move forward, challenge yourself to ask more meaningful questions and listen more deeply.
• When it comes to small talk, this is a magical tool.

Connection And Social Bonding

Questions like “Have you seen any good films recently? ” can lead to discussions about storytelling and cinematic preferences. It can be a delightful way to spend a few minutes with a stranger while in line at the grocery store, it can be your superpower at a party, or it can lead to your next career move. Or, if you’re like Bryan, it can simply be uplifting banter about precipitation.

Some Of The Benefits Of Engaging In Small Talk Include:

Second, while an enthusiastic conversation is fun, a heated one won’t help your networking goals whatsoever. If you or the other person starts getting riled up, change the topic. Delve into the other person’s passions—they’ll be enthusiastic to talk about what they love and you’ll get the chance to connect with them on a deeper level.

I’m one of those deep and meaningful types, so I can find it dull and difficult to navigate. Read short and uplifting articles here to help you shift your Chatsrhythm thought, so you can see real change in your life and health. Nadiia is a Marketing Specialist with 7 years of experience in digital communications.

Look At People’s Body Language To Know If They Want To Talk

They may have other things on their mind and just can’t get into chatting right now. Excuse yourself politely and move on to something else. Just like you don’t get married on the first date, small talk is your first attempt at friendship. You both need to figure out if there’s enough there to keep the connection up long term.