What's up Doc?
What are some examples of small talk topics?
- the weather
- current events
- sports
- pop culture
- environmental cues (someone's clothing)
What is a challenging conversation?
A difficult or challenging conversation is a conversation where you have to manage emotions and information.
Open-mindedness is a positive character quality and it enables those who use it to think critically and rationally. It is so important to be able to step out of your comfort zone and consider other ideas and perspectives
What is culture?
Culture is a word for the 'way of life' of groups of people, meaning the way they do things
Culture is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts.
Why is small talk important?
Every great, deep relationship started out as small talk
Small talk can feel awkward, but awkward silence can feel even more uncomfortable so it's important to get used to small talk
It's the first step to getting to know somebody and build relationships
It's useful at work with coworkers as well as customers
It is part of good customer service!
People can sometimes come across as rude if you don't engage in small talk
What is an example of a conversation that you would find challenging?
talking about feelings with friends or family
standing up/advocating for yourself to people
discussing your diverse ability
talking about barriers and accommodations with your employer
resigning or being let go from a job
talking about your medical and/or mental health situations or history
resolving conflict
having disagreements about societal issues
E.g.
Non-judgmental, logical, collaborative, considerate, flexible, etc.
What are some examples of culture?
Norms. Norms are informal, unwritten rules that govern social behavior
Language
Festivals
Rituals & Ceremony
Holidays
Pastimes
Food
Architecture
What are 2 tips for engaging in small talk?
1. Listen to what the other person is saying so you know how to response. Ex. If Nathan is talking about hockey you want to stick with that theme, rather than jumping around
2. Be open and honest
3. Clues around you ex. Are they wearing a sports jersey, where are you, are you outside at a park enjoying the fresh air, see if you have any common interests
4. There are natural pauses in conversation, roll with them
5. Ask questions about them, who are they, what do they like to do, whats their favourite thing to do for fun?
6. Sometimes conversation can be awkward, you might not know what to say, that’s okay!
7. Make sure you end the conversation politely. If you are having a hard time saying goodbye slowly stop asking questions. Say you have to leave. Etc.
8. Practice, use your family members as test subject, practice with your job coaches, etc.
How would a challenging conversation make you feel emotionally and physically? Be specific!
Emotionally- angry, sad, frustrated, nervous etc.
Physically- red in the face, shaky, nauseous, hot/feverish, shaking hands, sweaty etc.
Name at least 3 qualities someone who is open minded might have.
They are curious to hear what others think
They are able to have their ideas challenged
They don’t get angry when they are wrong
They have empathy for other people
They think about what other people are thinking
They are humble about their own knowledge and expertise
They want to hear what other people have to say
They believe others have a right to share their beliefs and thoughts
What is cultural diversity?
Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures. The phrase cultural diversity can also refer to having different cultures respect each other's differences.
How can small talk be useful at work and life?
Small talk helps you with customers
Helps advance your social skills
Help you in your relationships and building new relationships
Maintains social norms
What is the difference between small talk and having a challenging conversation
Small talk:
Might be challenging for some people but usually natural for most to engage in small talk.
Challenging Conversations:
These are hard for anyone to talk about. It is typical to feel uncomfortable when talking about these topics.
Why is being open-minded important?
Being open-minded means welcoming new ideas, arguments, and information that you typically do not align with. ... Being able to change outdated or incorrect beliefs is an important part of learning and personal growth. This all stems from learning and unlearning close-minded behaviors
An example of a close-minded belief that has drastically changed = gay marriage
This was illegal for many years. With people being more open-minded throughout the years now everyone has the right to be married
Why is cultural diversity important in the workplace?
A diverse workplace can significantly improve team success, allowing for greater input from various sources (different people)
Learning about other cultures helps us understand different perspectives within the world in which we live
Cultural diversity helps us recognize and respect “ways of being” that are not necessarily our own
Improves customer service skills and cultural sensitivity
Example: saying happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas because not everyone celebrates Christmas.
Act out small talk! You're in line at starbucks and you've run into an old friend from high school.
_________
Name 3 tips for having challenging conversations!
Take time to think about the current situation
Try not to be reactive
Take some deep breaths
Talk to someone else to help you
Know that everyone has challenging conversations
Try to be calm (easier said than done!)
You really aren’t looking for a job that requires you to work early evenings or weekends but you notice that most employers are looking for someone with a more flexible schedule. What could you do?
________
How can we be more culturally sensitive?
Increase your level of understanding about other cultures by interacting with people outside of your own culture
Avoid imposing values on others that may conflict or be inconsistent with other cultures
When interacting with others who may not be proficient in English, recognize that their limitations in English proficiency in no way reflects their level of intellectual functioning
Intervene in an appropriate manner when you observe others engaging in behaviours that show cultural insensitivity, bias, or prejudice
Be proactive in listening, accepting, and welcoming people and ideas that are different from your own
be aware of your own cultural biases-let go of thinking that your cultures norms are the best one