Is Small Talk Important in Business?

Is Small Talk Important in Business?

Simply defined, small talk is a light discussion that is not necessarily related to the topic or purpose of the event but might potentially be beneficial to your business. Engaging in small talk is a necessary, initial step to bond with new clients, customers, and business partners.

By sparking an easy conversation with people for the first time, you exert an impression that you are friendly and pleasant. The topics involved in small talk can build an image that you are trustworthy and consequently opens doors for potential business ventures in the future.

The process of small talk can be divided into three parts: starting a conversation, keeping the conversation going, and moving onto business. The following are samples of questions and expressions to begin your talk.

Starting a conversation:

  • Is this your first time here/ in (city)?
  • What do you think (city)/ the (event)?
  • Are you interested in football/films/sports?
  • The weather here has just been fantastic/horrible.

Keeping the conversation going:

  • Are you interested in any particular sport?
  • Have you been to (city) before?

Moving on business:

  • So, are you looking for suppliers?
  • Right, should we get down to business?

Here are a few suggested topics you can cover in small talk:

  • 1.Education background: Education is another common topic besides talking about the weather. When meeting people for the first time, you generally want to know in which university they pursued their education and which program they took.
  • 2.Working experience: another general small talk topic is asking about their job. You may start by asking about their current company they are working in, before proceeding to asking about their job description.
  • 3.Hometown: The usual “where are you from?” question is also an interesting topic for small talk. This could lead to another topic about travel if your business counterpart has an interest to visit your country.
  • 4.Interests: When you ask about what they like such as hobbies, it usually motivates them to talk more because people like talking about their interests. The conversation can surely expand if you share a common interest with them.

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