Small Talk

Technology and Small Talk

100

Overview of Technology and Small Talk

1. Effects on our youth
2. The good, bad, and ugly of technology
3. Supplement on small talk today
4. How to perfect the art of small talk

200

What effects has technology had on our children?

1. Children to Adult Problems
2. The shyness of talking over the phone
3. General Lack of Social Interaction

300

The good, the bad, and the ugly

1. Good: Virtual Connection, global presence, and uninterrupted interaction
2. Bad: Decreased human contact, longing for belonging, and unable to understand responses
3. Ugly: Very good for future, ugly outlook if used wrong, up to us to determine future

400

Supplemental Reading

1. Mere connection vs. conversation
2. The outcomes of connection vs. conversation
3. The shift towards finding ourselves in others
4. Conversation is a cornerstone
5. We are resilient and have all we need

500

How to perfect the art of small talk

1. Read the situation
2. Look for open body language in groups or a person
3. Ask a genuine question to get small talk active
4. Know when to leave the conversation

In Depth on Rapport

100

Rapport 101

1. Rapport: positive connection/feeling of mutual understanding between two people during conversation

2. Curiosity and openness

3. Active Listening

4. Nonverbal cues

200

The first step in establishing rapport in a conversation

What is adopting an open and curious mindset, approaching interactions as dialogues rather than one-sided exchanges. 

This attitude fosters mutual respect and invites meaningful engagement

300

FUN FACT: Rapport is an important aspect of the workplace for this reason. 

Good rapport between coworkers leads to increased productivity and efficiency in the workplace, as it fosters a positive work environment, improves communication, builds trust and encourages collaboration.  

400

Active listening is considered a key component of building rapport. These strategies can enhance it.

Strategies to enhance active listening include making eye contact, paraphrasing what you hear, and asking thoughtful follow-up questions. These actions ensure the other person feels heard and valued

500

Activity!!!!

Divide into pairs and practice parts of rapport 

Formal vs Informal

100

Intro to Formal and Informal Communication

Informal conversations: more casual/spontaneous. Occurs in social settings or during casual interactions at work

Generations: Millennials (1981-1996) / Gen Z (1997-present)

Formal Conversations: Structured, follows protocol, used in professional setting (emails, meetings, etc.)

Generations: Baby Boomers (1946-1964) / Generation X (1965-1980)

200

Question 1

Can anyone share an example of a situation where they had to decide between using formal or informal communication? What did you choose and why?

300

Question 2

What are the key differences between formal and informal communication, and how do generational differences impact these differences? 

400

FUN FACT!!

Small talk is responsible for nearly one-third of our speech and plays a crucial role in building trust and relationships in the workplace. It can even make or break a job prospect, a networking encounter, or a business deal.

500

Activity

Discuss with your group whether each of these examples should have an informal or formal tone throughout the small talk:

- Scenario 1

- Scenario 2

- Scenario 3

Good Topics vs Bad Topics

100

 Good and Bad Topics in Small Talk

Good and Bad topics are used when starting or filling a conversation

200

Question 1 – What do you think would be some topics you would want to avoid in small talk?

 Some examples of bad topics would be sensitive subjects like politics, religion, personal finances, over personal questions

300

Question 2 – What are some topics you think you should bring up in small talk?

Examples of Good topics would be weather, entertainment like movies or tv, sports, family, food, work, and travel are great topics to bring up when you have to fill the conversation when meeting someone.  

400

Discussion Question

Have you experienced or observed any bad topics in small talk?  

500

 Fun Fact!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some questions you could ask in a conversation could be:  

Are you reading any great books I need recommendations?  

What’ your favorite sports team? 

How many siblings do you have? 

Where are you from?  

(Now practice some small talk in your groups)