logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
38 m

#460 How to Master Small Talk (Even if Y...

THE SQUIGGLY CAREER
About this episode

Small talk is part of lots of the meetings and moments that we experience at work and most of us don't enjoy it! This week, Sarah and Helen discuss why small talk matters for connection and how to approach it. They share 'small talk starters', the importance of listening to what is said (instead of being distracted by what you want to say) and how to transition from small talk into what needs to come next.


To use the PodSheet that supports the episode, head to amazingif.com/listen


(00:00) Introduction

(00:54) The hatred of small talk

(07:10) The quick connection approach

(09:24) Different small talk practices

(10:26) Small-talk starters

(20:55) Half listening vs whole listening

(27:12) When to stop the small talk

(35:15) Final thoughts


For questions about Squiggly Careers or to share feedback, please email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com


Need some more squiggly career support?

1. Download our free careers tools https://www.amazingif.com/toolkit/

2. Sign-up for our Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024

3. Read our books ‘The Squiggly Career’ and ‘You Coach You’ www.amazingif.com/books/



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Oct 9
Squiggly Shortcut: How to ask for a pay rise
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday.In this shortcut, Sarah shares a practical idea to help you confidently ask for a pay rise. While the conversation can feel anxiety-induc ... Show More
8m 31s
Oct 7
Why Bringing Your Authentic Self To Work Is Bad Advice
Is “just be yourself at work” really the best advice? In this 500th episode of the Squiggly Careers podcast, Helen and Sarah explore the tricky topic of authenticity — and why being 100% yourself at work might not always help you succeed.Borrowing brilliance from Dr. Tomas Chamor ... Show More
24m 21s
Oct 2
How to Stop Being a People Pleaser Without Guilt (3 Easy Tips)
✨ Welcome to Squiggly Shortcuts — a brand new series from the Squiggly Careers podcast, bringing you quick career tips in just 5 minutes, every Thursday. In this shortcut, Helen shares a practical idea to help you spot and stop people pleasing at work, so you can set boundaries, ... Show More
5m 57s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
Unlock the Secret to Effortless Business Small Talk: Build Better Connections at Work!
Click here to upgrade your English speaking skills and accelerate your career! 🤩 https://academy.explearning.co/plans/351413 Struggling to master small talk in business settings? You’re not alone! Small talk can feel awkward, but it’s one of the most powerful tools for building ... Show More
40m 36s
Dec 2024
How to Never Struggle with Small Talk
Small talk can be so awkward.You’re trying to fill the silence, but the conversation just isn’t clicking. What do you do?In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to make small talk feel natural, engaging, and even enjoyable. You’ll learn how to ask better questions, keep the conversat ... Show More
15m 11s
Aug 25
746: How to Make Small Talk with Executives, with Lorraine K. Lee
Lorraine K. Lee: Unforgettable Presence Lorraine K. Lee is passionate about helping ambitious professionals go from invisible to unforgettable in the modern workplace. She is recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in workplace communication and presence and spent over a decade as a f ... Show More
39m 6s
Aug 12
222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
Some conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them comes with a cost.You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more meaningful life? What if all that’s standing in your way — are the conversations that you’re avoiding?“Most things that we want in l ... Show More
25m 1s
Nov 2024
169. Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count
​​ What makes a great conversation? “Many of us dread small talk,” says Harvard Business School professor and author Alison Wood Brooks. Yet she believes these everyday exchanges are the gateway to deeper connection and opportunity. An expert in the science of conversation, Wood ... Show More
24m 50s
Mar 2025
The Keys to Great Conversation
Whether we’re interacting with colleagues, clients, friends, family members or strangers, conversations are the way most of us build — or break — relationships. And yet we don’t often think deeply about how to approach this type of casual communication.  Alison Wood Brooks, assoc ... Show More
32m 19s
Aug 2024
How to Be An Introvert In An Extraverted Career | Susan Cain
#99 Ever felt like your introverted nature is holding you back? In this episode, Susan Cain explores how introverts can harness their natural abilities to overcome challenges like public speaking anxiety. She discusses her transformative approach to embracing introversion, highli ... Show More
56m 45s
Feb 2025
How to Master Small Talk & Why We Do Things Without Knowing Why- SYSK Choice
Is there a reason we have eyebrows? Pretty much every part of the human body has a reason for being there and eyebrows actually have three reasons. I begin this episode by explaining what they are. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58424/why-do-we-have-eyebrows Every relationsh ... Show More
49m 35s
Apr 2025
4-Hour Secret: Master Uncomfortable Conversations
Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes4-Hour Secret: Master Uncomfortable ConversationsApril 29, 2025 | Episode - 5082Host: Scott Smith Episode DescriptionEver wonder how those "work less, earn more" gurus pull it off? In this eye-opening episode, Scott dives into a hidden gem from Tim F ... Show More
11m 11s
Sep 24
MBA2681 Q&A Wednesday: How Do I Ask an Employee to go from Full-time to Part-time Hours?
Need to reduce an employee’s hours but unsure how to approach the conversation without creating tension? It’s one of the trickier leadership moments, and if you’ve been hesitating, this episode will help you move forward with clarity and care.This week’s question comes from Terry ... Show More
13m 26s