With everyone glued to their phones 24/7, small talk seems like a fate worse than death. You mention the idea of small talk to anyone & they usually respond with something like, “ugh, I hate small talk. It’s just so awkward.” Why does it have to be like that? Once you hit the real world small talk becomes an everyday thing that you just have to do. *ugh!* So if you have to do it, why not make the most of it.
The key to mastering small talk is all about finding a perfect balance. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that balance in your next conversation.
BALANCE TALKING WITH LISTENING
This is KEY! Nobody likes having a one sided conversation, but we are all guilty of having them. Either you are the person talking to much, or the person not talking enough. [ I myself am guilty of being the person not talking enough. oops. I am working on it though, one convo at a time.]
TIP: Respond to what the person is saying rather than jump to a new topic because that is what YOU want to talk about.
LESS SHOWING OFF // MORE BEING NICE
How many conversations have you been in where the other person is just showing off as much as they can? Probably too much to count!
TIP: Be nice and complimentary of the other persons conversation. Let them be the only ‘braggy’ one in the situation. (if they really have to be) You never want to be the one trying to show off. Be humble and be nice.
LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
No, you probably are not going to walk away from every small talk with your new best friend, or business client. No, not every small talk you have is going to interesting. Trust me, it just doesn’t happen that way. If you walk away with a new restaurant recommendation that you actually want to try, I’d say you did alright.
TIP: Always be relaxed in these situations. Relaxed people are always more enjoyable for people to be around.
GET CREATIVE WITH THE CONVO
Small talk get a bad wrap due to the fact that people are always asking the same boring questions resulting in awkward lulls. Don’t fall into the awkwardness.
TIP: Instead of asking a complete stranger “How’s school in California?” rethink the question & make it more interesting. Say something like “ I’ve never been to California, what’s it like living there”? This allows the person to talk about their day to day life, school, destination spots in the area, and basically anything else, because you have left the question so open ended. You have also left yourself more opportunities for questions.
So freak out that your new adult life will be filled with the dreaded small talk. Instead, embrace it for what it is and get the most out of every conversation. You never know who you are going to meet.
