Small Talk
So much of what we do in our professional life happens in what we would term a 'casual' context.
Although contracts and deals are signed officially in the boardroom, the deal is made over lunch or coffee. The "small talk" we make during these casual meetings becomes a very important precursor to the "big talk" that occurs in the board room later.
"Small talk" is the basis for others to make their character assessment of us and thus might determine the success or failure of our ventures.
Being good at making small talk means effectively engaging others in leisurely banter on non work-related subjects yet it is not easy to find a good conversationalist.
Here are some tips to cultivate your ability to engage in small talk:
1. Stay connected: Watch the news, read the papers and news websites, even subscribe to news-related Facebook pages. A keen knowledge of current affairs makes for a relevant and interesting conversationalist. Of course, it's also about how you relate personally to all that information and shaping your own opinions and ideas about them.
2. Avoid extremism: When engaged in small talk with somebody you are unfamiliar with, do avoid making statements that may seem sweeping or one-sided to those who do not know you well. Such statements can run a gamut of topics -- politics, religion and even sports! For example, no Manchester United fan would appreciate hearing about how intensely you dislike their team.
3. Listen: The two-way flow of a conversation means that you really need to actively listen and respond genuinely to what the other person has to say even if it's small talk. Otherwise, they might think you enjoy the sound of your own voice a little too much.
Always consider your responses to what the other party is saying and try not to 'switch off' no matter how boring it might seem. Putting these into practice might create many opportunities to have rich conversations with others and who knows what that might lead to!
So much of what we do in our professional life happens in what we would term a 'casual' context.
Although contracts and deals are signed officially in the boardroom, the deal is made over lunch or coffee. The "small talk" we make during these casual meetings becomes a very important precursor to the "big talk" that occurs in the board room later.
"Small talk" is the basis for others to make their character assessment of us and thus might determine the success or failure of our ventures.
Being good at making small talk means effectively engaging others in leisurely banter on non work-related subjects yet it is not easy to find a good conversationalist.
Here are some tips to cultivate your ability to engage in small talk:
1. Stay connected: Watch the news, read the papers and news websites, even subscribe to news-related Facebook pages. A keen knowledge of current affairs makes for a relevant and interesting conversationalist. Of course, it's also about how you relate personally to all that information and shaping your own opinions and ideas about them.
2. Avoid extremism: When engaged in small talk with somebody you are unfamiliar with, do avoid making statements that may seem sweeping or one-sided to those who do not know you well. Such statements can run a gamut of topics -- politics, religion and even sports! For example, no Manchester United fan would appreciate hearing about how intensely you dislike their team.
3. Listen: The two-way flow of a conversation means that you really need to actively listen and respond genuinely to what the other person has to say even if it's small talk. Otherwise, they might think you enjoy the sound of your own voice a little too much.
Always consider your responses to what the other party is saying and try not to 'switch off' no matter how boring it might seem. Putting these into practice might create many opportunities to have rich conversations with others and who knows what that might lead to!
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