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Small Talk

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47 views

Small Talk

Uploaded by

t7kx7p92mq
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Small talk

WITH FRIENDS

HEY THERE! HOW'S YOUR NIGHT GOING?

HI, I DON'T THINK WE'VE MET YET. I'M [YOUR NAME].

IT'S QUITE THE CROWD HERE, ISN'T IT?

I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE YOUR [INTERESTING ACCESSORY/CLOTHING].

I COULDN'T HELP BUT OVERHEAR YOU TALKING ABOUT [TOPIC]. MIND IF I


CHIME IN?
IN A BUSINESS SETTING OR WITH YOUR BOSS

SO, I HEARD YOU CLOSED A BIG CLIENT TODAY! CONGRATS!

ARE YOU STILL WORKING ON THAT PROJECT WITH [INSERT


COMPANY/CLIENT NAME]?

I HEARD YOU’RE GOING ON HOLIDAY NEXT WEEK. ANY EXCITING


PLANS?

HOW’S YOUR WORKLOAD?

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON [INDUSTRY TREND/CURRENT NEWS]?

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A GOOD LUNCH SPOT AROUND HERE?


IN AN INTERVIEW

HOW HAS YOUR DAY BEEN SO FAR?


IT’S NICE OUTSIDE TODAY, ISN’T IT?
HOPEFULLY, YOU DIDN'T GET CAUGHT IN TOO MUCH TRAFFIC!
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO EXPLORE OUR OFFICE SPACE? WHAT
DO YOU THINK OF IT?
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COMPANY OR THE ROLE
BEFORE WE BEGIN?
HAVE YOU VISITED OUR OFFICE BEFORE, OR IS THIS YOUR FIRST
TIME SEEING IT?
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION IN
PARTICULAR?
WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER

WEATHER: A CLASSIC ICEBREAKER AND A NEUTRAL TOPIC EVERYONE CAN


RELATE TO.
HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: ASKING ABOUT WHAT SOMEONE LIKES TO DO IN
THEIR FREE TIME CAN SPARK INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS.
FOOD AND CUISINE: TALKING ABOUT FAVORITE DISHES, RESTAURANTS, OR
COOKING CAN LEAD TO ENJOYABLE CONVERSATIONS.
BOOKS AND MOVIES: DISCUSSING RECENT READS OR POPULAR FILMS CAN
HELP FIND COMMON INTERESTS.
FAMILY: ASKING ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS, SIBLINGS, OR THEIR
UPBRINGING IS USUALLY WELL-RECEIVED.
WORK OR STUDIES: INQUIRING ABOUT THEIR JOB, CAREER GOALS, OR
STUDIES CAN LEAD TO INSIGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS.
IN A WAITING ROOM

I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE SO BUSY TODAY.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING FOR YOUR TURN?

IS IT THE FIRST TIME YOU’RE COMING TO SEE THIS DOCTOR?

IT LOOKS LIKE WE’LL BE HERE FOR A WHILE!

IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF A DELAY TODAY.


TOPICS TO AVOID IN SMALL TALK

AS A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB, YOU SHOULD AVOID ANY TOPIC


THAT MAY BE OFFENSIVE, CONTROVERSIAL, OR TOO INTRUSIVE.
FOR INSTANCE, AVOID TOPICS LIKE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS,
POLITICS, AND CONTROVERSIAL CURRENT EVENTS.

YOU SHOULD ALSO STAY AWAY FROM ASKING ABOUT THE


PERSON’S AGE, COMMENTING ON THEIR APPEARANCE (UNLESS
IT’S POSITIVE), AND TALKING ABOUT NEGATIVE THINGS LIKE
DEATH OR ILLNESSES.
HOW TO END A CONVERSATION COMFORTABLY

THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE YOU TO END A


CONVERSATION POLITELY WITH SOMEONE IS TO USE A
VIABLE EXCUSE, LIKE “IT WAS GREAT CHATTING WITH
YOU, BUT I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK… HAVE A NICE
DAY!” OR “I HAVE TO RUN, MY BUS IS HERE. HAVE A
GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY!”
HELLO
IT’S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU
GOOD MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING

SOME INFORMAL GREETINGS:

HI
HELLO
HEY
YO!
WHAT’S UP? – THIS IS AN INFORMAL WAY TO SAY: HOW ARE YOU?
HOW’S IT GOING?
WHAT’S YOUR
HI, HOW ARE YOU? NAME?

WHERE DO YOU
HOW’S YOUR DAY GOING?
LIVE?

HAVING A BUSY DAY?


WHERE ARE YOU
FROM?
HOW’S LIFE?
WHAT DO YOU DO?
HOW’S EVERYTHING?
SOMEONE YOU’VE JUST BEEN INTRODUCED TO:

NICE TO MEET YOU!


PLEASED TO MEET YOU!
HOW DO YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?
SO, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING? – THIS MEANS WHAT DO YOU
DO FOR A JOB?
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT?

SOMEONE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN FOR A WHILE:

HOW ARE YOU KEEPING?


WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING LATELY?
HOW’S YOUR FAMILY?
LONG TIME NO SEE!
WHAT A COINCIDENCE!

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR AGES.

I HAD BETTER LET YOU GO.

DID YOU CATCH THE NEWS TODAY?

DO YOU MIND ME ASKING?

WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

I NEED YOUR HELP WITH THIS MATTER.


SEE EYE TO EYE

IF TWO PEOPLE SEE EYE TO EYE, THEY AGREE WITH EACH


OTHER

SPEAK/TALK OF THE DEVIL

SOMETHING YOU SAY WHEN THE PERSON


YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT APPEARS
UNEXPECTEDLY

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