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Not all
speech is created equal. Keynote
addresses, press conferences, sermons, lectures, gossip* they definitely do not
evoke the same response. While the
higher profile forms of communication make all the headlines, don't
underestimate the potential of small talk.
Just because it's small doesn't mean it can't have big impact. More and
more, those seemingly insignificant discussions on golf courses, at cafeterias,
and around copy machines are making their way into boardrooms and executive
suites. Choose the
right person. While some people
dislike any involvement or contact at all, considering it superfluous and
distracting, others may welcome an idle word or two, seeing it as a way of
making business and the office more personal.
Fellow attendees at a workshop, collaborators on a project, or employees
at a year-end party can all make good small talk companions.
Choosing
the right person can mean the difference between five wasted minutes and a
partnership that could last years. Knowing
whom to approach isn't difficult; simply read the body-language signals and
respect their wishes.
Choose the
right time. When thinking of
entering into small talk, be sensitive to the other person's mood and
circumstances. What may be a coffee
break for you may be a pressing deadline for someone else. On an
airplane, when your seatmate is obviously preoccupied, leave him or her alone.
Neither would you try to engage someone in small talk when the person is
dashing down the hallway to make a meeting.
And if the
CEO has unexpectedly called you in for a "little chat," this is not
the time to take the lead. Let him
or her dictate the topic and pace with which you get down to business. Choose the
right medium. If timing is
everything, then selecting the right medium ranks a close second. Each means
of communication, be it in person or via modern technology, has its own
strengths and weaknesses. Marshall
McLuhan, the mass media guru of the '60s, contended that the medium was the
message. Knowing the uniqueness of
each will help you use them more effectively. The
greatest danger regarding media involves those that aren't face to face - most
notably, the telephone. Since
you're not present to read their signals or note their feedback, you have no way
to gauge their interest or availability.
Know where you're going with the call and be prepared to get there.
Don't assume that people expect or welcome a little chitchat before you
begin your business. Choose the
right topic. The "what"
of your small talk can be as crucial as the "who," "where,"
"when," and "why." General
topics like vacations, hobbies, current projects, and sports are both
interesting and conversational. On
the other hand, controversial issues like religion, politics, and race relations
are not as appropriate for small
talk and are better left to CNN or Meet the Press.
Remember, your Small talk
means having a little loose change in your pocket.
Like quarters at a pay phone or dollars at a tollbooth, it'll come in
handy when you least expect it. The
trick is knowing when to jiggle it, spend it, or save it. |
