The Power of Small Talk

As a public speaker, I often hear people say they have no time for small talk. They see it as shallow and a time waster.

Actually, small talk is a social connecting tool that provides a non-threatening dialogue script between strangers. For example, you meet someone at a networking function. You can politely engage that person with “Hello,” or “Hi,” followed by, “My name is Michelle,” and that opens the door to continue a conversation.

Small talk is a powerful tool because it reveals how a person speaks, language level, tone, and interest in pursuing the conversation. It gives us language

Manners are a social tool

Manners are another social tool and provide a way for us to interact in social settings. Manners used to be taught to children, but have been discarded by many over the years. Consider these phrases:

• Excuse me
• Please and thank you
• May I ask you a question
• Asking directions of a stranger

Our society requires people to interact, so manners and small talk help us get to where we want to go.