Task
What is the recipe for excelling at small talk?
Feedback
- Approach effectively
- Use lottery-winning posture: open, relaxed, confident
- Smile and make brief eye contact
- Use a natural greeting or handshake when appropriate
- Use a simple, low-stakes opener
- Hi, I’m Don
- How’s your day going?
- What brought you here today?
- Sustain an easy back-and-forth rhythm
- Use active listening
- Ask simple open questions
- Stay with light, safe topics
- Build on what they say; follow threads
- Pivot when needed to keep balance
- Be curious, not intense
- Exit gracefully
- Thanks, it was nice talking with you
- Excuse me, I’m going to grab a drink
- I’ll let you get back to your group