(listicle)

Small talk is about getting to know your colleagues and business partners as people, not just as business machines. A lot of the best small talk happens accidentally: the classic situations are the queue at the coffee machine or the water cooler. A much more systematic and effective way to build good relationships between people from different departments is to allow small talk to flourish in meetings, conferences, official receptions, and so on.

Here are some practical tips to master small talk in business settings:

1. Start with a warm greeting:

Use a polite and friendly opening: “Hi, it’s nice to meet you” or “Good morning, how are you today?”. Smile and make eye contact to convey openness and positivity.

2. Prepare general topics:

Have a mental list of neutral topics to start a conversation, such as: current events but avoid controversial topics such as politics, religion and sensitive personal matters. One more good topic to speak about is industry news: “Did you hear about the recent dismissal in IT?” or shared experiences: “How did you find today’s conference?”

3. Show genuine interest:

Ask open-ended questions to encourage the other person to share more: “What brought you to this event?” or “How did you get started in your career?”. You should listen actively and follow up with comments that show engagement.

4. Use compliments and observations:

Offer sincere compliments: “I really enjoyed your presentation earlier.” Alternatively, you can make observations about the environment: “The venue is wonderful, isn’t it?”

5. Keep the conversation balanced:

You should avoid dominating the conversation; aim for an equal exchange. If you notice, the other person is not engaging, gently shift topics or give them space.