How To Engage In Authentic Small Talk

Taking the initiative to speak up doesn't only need to happen in meetings. In fact, engaging in small talk is a great way to build rapport.

Truth is, small talk is an important career skill. It helps expand your network, thus your career advancement. It isn't enough just to hit performance metrics.

People have to like you, enjoy working with you, and know you.

Small talk for building rapport is more important the higher up you go. You'll have to be able to engage with people from all sorts of backgrounds and expertise fluidly.

We've found 3 strategies to help level up your small talk skills.?

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1. Ask Smart Questions

In order to avoid getting one-word answers, you will want to ask questions that can't be answered with just one word.?Sounds simple enough, right?

For example, let's say that you are at a networking (in-person or remote) event.?You've started engaging in small talk with someone you are very interested to know more about.?

You start by asking the question, how are you???

They respond with, I'm good.?

At this point, it may be difficult to continue the conversation?A one or two-word answer leaves less room for follow-up questions. However, think about what else you can ask them that would require a more elaborate response.?

For example, you could follow up by asking:

• What brought you to this event?
• How is that project you've been working on?
• Do you have any plans over the weekend?

Once they respond, you can then share your thoughts about where they are going over the weekend.?You can also talk about what brought you to this networking event.?

Asking smart questions can also improve your Executive Presence and help you be seen as a charismatic leader at work.??

Remember, the key to asking smart questions is to ask questions that require the person to elaborate with more than one word.

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2. Power Words

Another way to engage in authentic small talk is using "power words". Power words are often linked to marketing, but they're also extremely useful when engaging in authentic small talk.

Power words are strategic words that evoke an emotional, psychological, or cognitive reaction.

Examples of power words include:

• Excited - I was really excited about this
• Frustrated - That project made me really frustrated
• Soaring - Our sales team is soaring past their Q1 goals.?
• Massive - We saw massive improvement once we implemented this new system.?

Whenever you use power words, it unconsciously perks up the other person's ears and makes them want to engage with you more.?

?? In our LinkedIn Learning e-course, Speaking Up At Work, we discuss the importance of authentic small talk and how you can use it to your advantage for career success.

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3. Be Present

In order to truly engage in authentic small talk, you have to be present.?This means treating each and every conversation as an opportunity to get to know the other person.

Let curiosity lead the way.

You can show you are being present with your body language, listening, and getting rid of distractions.

Body Language - Whether you cringe at small talk or enjoy it, your body language will give away your true feelings if you aren't careful. This means making sure you are maintaining eye contact when they are speaking and nodding your head in acknowledgment. Don't just stare either!

Listening - When you ask a smart question, are you actively or passively listening to their response??You can't just ask and tune out what the other person is saying.?That is not engaging authentically. Make sure you are actively listening.

For example:

• You can paraphrase what they said
• You can comment on something that they said
• You can ask them to clarify
• You can ask a question that digs further into what they just said

Distractions - Put your phone away and get rid of all distractions.

Whether you cringe or love engaging in small talk, doing it well is an art and part of career success. People are emotional creatures, thus, learning how to chat with people from all backgrounds and all departments is key to you becoming a well-rounded person. That's leadership!

To read the full article click here!

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If you'd like to learn more about our communications services and how we work with individuals and companies, check out our website:?www.soulcastmedia.com