MAKING SMALL TALK IN

BUSINESS SETTINGS
LESSON 1
 •Small talk is informal communication and a first
building block for interpersonal relationships. It serves
the important purpose of allowing for low-stakes
interactions as people build initial connections and
WHAT IS identify common interests, similar needs, and other
SMALL TALK? mutual interests. Small talk is generally a friendly, brief
conversation with no real agenda other than to share a
pleasant interaction with another person. Most
relationships of substance begin with some sort of small
talk.
 • Small talk plays a significant role in business settings as it is
the first step in the development of long-term business
relationships. Small talk can help to not only identify
similarities but can also lead to continued communication
necessary for developing deeper and more authentic
relationships. In a business setting, these relationships can

MAKING SMALL lead to professional opportunities, including partnerships,

sales, and promotions.
TALK IN
BUSINESS • Effective small talk is not only speaking, but listening, too.

SETTINGS Engaging the other person in the conversation keeps them

from getting bored and makes the conversation a true
dialogue with both people contributing. Asking open-ended
questions is one way to engage the other person. It is
important to avoid interrupting the other person when they
are talking. Maintaining eye contact, leaning forward slightly,
and smiling (if/when appropriate) are strategies for providing
positive nonverbal feedback that communicates interest.
 There are certain subjects that make for good small
talk topics. These are topics that are likely to be of
at least some interest to everybody but without
controversy. These topics should not require any
real expertise, nor should they cause
embarrassment if one is not informed. The
GOOD SMALL following list includes topics that are likely to
serve well with small talk:
TALK TOPICS
• weather forecast
• sports (local and/or national)
• tasty food/good restaurants
• popular books, shows, or movies
• travel/destinations
 While there are some subjects that make for better
small topics, there are also some subjects that should
be considered off-limits for small talk. These are
subjects rich with controversy and likely to be
divisive. These are topics that will make people
uncomfortable at best and may embarrass or upset
SMALL TALK people at worst. The following list includes topics
MISTAKES that should be avoided during small talk:

• politics
• religion
• finances
• sex
• jokes/humor
• ill health
 While engaging in small talk can be intimidating, it is
important to remember that it is a communication skill—and
people get better with practice. The more somebody engages
in small talk, the better they will get at it. Keeping in mind
some ideas and tips will also help one to be more effective
with using small talk. As already mentioned, it is important
SMALL TALK to choose the right topics for small talk. Being prepared will
IDEAS & TIPS help; staying informed on current events (and all of the
topics bulleted in the Good Small Talk Topics section) is one
Small talk includes speaking and
listening. When listening, one should way to get prepared. During the conversation, it is important
maintain eye contact and smile if to intentionally engage the other person in the conversation
appropriate. and to encourage their active participation. Asking questions
and providing affirming responses (verbal as well as
nonverbal) can help with this.
SOME PROMPTS

Some specific prompts that may help to engage the other person
include:

• What do you think about...

• What do you know about...
• What do you like about...
• What do you think will happen with...
• Finally, identifying and observing somebody who is skilled
with small talk may help one to improve their own skills.
SMALL TALK EXAMPLE 1

The following is an example involving Kale and Icer. Both are new employees at the
same organization and both are attending an orientation session with human resources.
Kale and Icer arrived a few minutes before the start of the orientation, so they are sitting
in the training room and waiting for the trainer to arrive. They engage in the following
small talk:
Kale: Hi, you must be new, too?

Icer: Yeah. I'm pretty excited—this seems like a great place to work.

Kale: Yeah, I've got a friend who works here, and he's said only good things about the
company.
Icer: Oh, that's good to hear. What kinds of things has he told you?

Kale: : Well, he said the people who work here are nice and a lot of fun. He also said
the company caters lunch for all of the employees on Fridays!
Icer: Seriously? They provide lunch every Friday?

Kale: : Yeah, they have food brought in from that little diner down the street.

Icer: I love that place! They have the best sandwiches. Have you ever eaten there?

Kale: : My partner and I go there at least once a month. If you haven't had their apple
pie, you have to try it sometime.
Icer: Oh, if you like pie, you have to go to the bakery on the other side of town. They
have the best pies—and the best carrot cake!
 • The previous example shows how two strangers can
quickly and easily connect through small talk. Neither
person was made to feel uncomfortable through this
friendly conversation; they were able to identify some
SMALL TALK common interests (relating to food) and have a
EXAMPLE 2 foundation for future communication.
One purpose of small talk is to identify
similarities. Finding commonalities can
bring psychological closeness and builds
a foundation for future communication. • The next example comes from looking at Jesse and
Kim, two coeds enjoying a break between classes.
Jesse: Hi, I noticed that you're in my biology class. You sit in the row in
front of me.
Kim: That's my favorite class. I like to sit near the front because I don't
want to miss anything.
Jesse: You know, I think I think I saw you at the basketball game last night.
You were sitting in front of me there, too!
Kim: You were at the game last night?

Jesse:: Yeah, that was a great game!

Kim: I know! I can't believe we won at the last second. I was so nervous!

Jesse:: Me too! Do you go to a lot of basketball games?

Kim: I've been to every home game this year. How about you?

Jesse:: Yes, except for one. I had to miss one game because I needed to
study more for our first biology test. That first test was hard!
 THE PREVIOUS EXAMPLE SHOWS HOW TWO PEOPLE CAN
ENGAGE IN FRIENDLY CONVERSATION THROUGH COMMON
INTERESTS. EACH PERSON ASKS THE OTHER A QUESTION SO AS
TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING; BOTH CONTRIBUTE AND
ARE ENGAGED.
LESSON SUMMARY
Small talk is a short, friendly conversation about a common topic and plays an important role in building
interpersonal relationships. Small talk helps people to identify similarities that facilitate future interactions.
Topics appropriate for small talk are those that lack controversy and may include the weather, sports, and food.
Topics to avoid include politics (because it tends to divide people) and family situations (because a person may
be dealing with difficult and private family dynamics). Small talk involves both speaking and listening. In fact,
one might spend more time listening as compared to speaking in an effort to prevent the other person from
becoming bored. It is important to engage the other person as a speaker during small talk, and this can be
achieved through asking questions and providing affirming verbal/nonverbal responses.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are examples of What is small talk and How do I start small
small talk? why is it important? talk?
Examples of small talk include Small talk is friendly conversation Small talk starts with a comment to
conversations around the between two people who don't yet which the other person can respond.
weather, sports, and food. Any know each other well. This Making a reference to the weather,
topics that are light or somewhat friendly conversation allows for a sporting event, or food is a good
superficial can work, so long as two (or more) people to connect way to try to engage the other
over topics that are safe, i.e., person; asking questions that align
both/all participants are engaged.
with these topics is another way to
topics that avoid controversy,
engage others. Small talk involves
embarrassment, or other
both speaking and listening.
undesirable reactions.
WORKSHEET
 o Because the person may be experiencing a difficult family
1. WHY situation and you may upset him or her by asking.
SHOULD YOU
AVOID ASKING o Because most companies have a policy that prohibits
SOMEONE conversations about family at work.
ABOUT HIS OR
HER FAMILY o Because the person may report you to a manager for
UNLESS YOU asking such a personal question.

KNOW THEM
WELL? o Because you may mispronounce the names of his or her
family members.
 oWhen people speak quietly so that they don't disturb
others
2. WHICH ONE
OF THE oA short, friendly conversation about a common topic
FOLLOWING IS
THE BEST
DEFINITION OF oWhen people use small, simple words to have a
conversation.
SMALL TALK?
oWhen people use short sentences to speak to each other
 oBecause if you speak too much, the other person may
not like you.

3. DURING
SMALL TALK, oBecause you'll hear more office gossip you can use
later on.
WHY SHOULD
YOU LISTEN
oBecause listening is a more important English language
MORE THAN skill than speaking.
YOU SPEAK?
oBecause if you speak too much, the other person may
become bored.
 oSports
4. WHICH ONE
OF THE oFood
FOLLOWING IS
NOT A GOOD
SMALL TALK oMovies
TOPIC?
oReligion
 oBy asking the other person questions
5. WHAT IS ONE
OF THE BEST oBy talking loudly so the other person can't ignore you
WAYS TO KEEP
A SMALL TALK
CONVERSATIO oBy occasionally interrupting the other person
N GOING?
oBy quickly changing the topic after each response
COMING UP IN OUR
NEXT LESSON...

LESSON 2
PERSONAL CONVERSATION TOPICS IN BUSINESS SETTINGS