Your blog will be part of their required reading. Without getting on a political soapbox I continue to be surprised at the short-termism of the Australian outlook. How long should you speak? 7 English Small Talk Topics for Starting Friendly Conversations 1. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. Tammy Law. People from the office are either happy because is Friday or tired and want a little small talk to keep going and not so in to it. Talking about politics can be controversial, as people have very different beliefs. Work-life balance here is better obviously, and it is normal to pull longer hours in Malaysia. I really liked your blog and I hope I can improve my english with you. For example, studies indicate that people are happier when they talk to others, even if it is just strangers on a subway, and even if it is just small talk. Some psychologists have suggested that gossip is one of the most important mechanisms for bonding social groups. "Aussies are social and enjoy small talk, both in the office and out, so it will help you relate if you can get comfortable with it as well. How have you managed (this challenging situation or problem)? Hows yours going? This question enables you to show interest in what your coworkers doing, but also what may be coming. Yet others are deeply skeptical of small talk. It has been invaluable for relationship building. Platforms like Airmeet set up virtual speed networking for employees. That sounds like a really challenging situation. Learn four levels of intimacy. Sharing a few small (often fairly superficial) items of personal history and current circumstances helps the team to bond. It sounds like you need to have an additional conversation with your employer about their specific expectations for your interactions and the small talk topics you feel comfortable discussing. Here's what they said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hey there Im Kim. She does not need her job but our employer needs her. Conversely, this presents an incredible professional opportunity when you move to Australia. For example, we don't mind the use of profanity in the office. If you are good, you will shine, if you are not well find another country, you'll be found out quickly here! I had to call my sister (in recruitment in Sydney) to confirm! Trust is built and then maintained. Frank: My God, Cheryl! To build trust and foster rapport, make sure that you regularly allow a little time to get to know your team members and also disclose small personal aspects of yourself, so that each interaction is balanced, not one-sided. I still find the wearing of thongs (Aussie version, clearly) and the occasional bare feet a tad confronting, but I'm getting over it. The resultsrevealed that small talk was both uplifting and distracting. Wow, thanks for letting me know! How do you enter the workplace social inner sanctum? Religion 6. Scandinavians, on the other hand, are more comfortable with awkward silences than with awkward small talk, and the British TV show Very British Problems devoted an entire episode to the excruciating tactics that many Brits will resort to in an attempt to avoid small talk. Practise and observe your colleagues. If the interviewer raises the topic, its good to have something to say in return. Next, lets talk about responding to questions about work. The Art of Small Talk: Why Small Talk at Work Has Big Benefits What is a suitable topic? I'm originally British and lived and worked in London for 12 years. What I am no longer surprised by, but constantly reminded of, is the limitless capacity for innovation. You see this person every day, so you probably already know how theyre doing, without even asking the question. Industry networks are smaller and so you can get to build stronger, deeper relationships more quickly. Workplace Small Talk - OBP Australia You should avoid talking about your coworkers family, unless youre 100% sure that they have children. Even if your religion is important to you, you should try to avoid talking about it at work. showing interest in your coworkers can really help you in your career. The proximity to Asia and the fact we are in the same time zone means there are enormous opportunities across the continent for Aussies. Try this more detailed article where I give more examples of appropriate topics: https://englishwithkim.com/small-talk-better-questions-keep-conversation-going/ This one also talks about questions that are work-related: https://englishwithkim.com/office-small-talk-interesting-work-related-questions/ If you have any specific concerns about questions, let me know as Im in the process of updating this series and like to include questions from real-life situations. Small talk refers to an informal, polite conversation that often focuses on unimportant or trivial topics. 7 English Small Talk Topics for Starting Friendly Conversations Use these 85 strategies and reflection questions to clarify your next steps. In effect, we each learn to unconsciously deduce the sociolinguistic rules and protocols of short, vital workplace exchanges. Most taxi drivers love to have a chat so it's the perfect opportunity to practise your conversation skills in small talk. I am really hopeful, however, that we can resolve some of these challenges and increase our ability to innovate and claim our spot in the global landscape. Small talk is particularly important in cultures where people do not like awkward silences and broadly speaking, Australia is one of those cultures. Most people acquire these skills in their first language from years of immersion in their own culture, mixing socially and working with others. Think of small talk as a tool that negotiates and defines a relationship. I always get a sense of calm when I hear it spoken as I know I can rely on the individual to do what he or she has promised. In the American workplace, showing your ability to get along with your coworkers is an essential job skill. Making Small Talk in the Workplace with Colleagues and Coworkers You probably know by now that making small talk is an essential communication skill. 10 Best Small Talk Topics & Conversation Starters (+ Examples) You'll find Aussies all over the world doing the same thing. Though these encounters probably lasted only minutes, they played a crucial role in making us feel emotionally connected at work. Of course, I wouldnt rather kill myself). HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Hi there! I have had issues with my coworker and believe she is trying to have me fired. People in countries where there have been downturns or where there is strong competition for every job will often work every day as if their life depends on it because it does. which can prove beneficial in improving socialization between employees . Sure! Partners help each other grow by merging identities and taking on each other's qualities. We exchanged hellos with colleagues on our way in from the parking lot, chatted about our weekends . The same goes for securing a deal, it's a straight-up-and-down process: lawyer, office, papers signed and you're done. You didnt usually go into your next meeting without the social lubricant of small talk first. And a well-oiled, open workplace where people are free to engage with each other means that people get more work done and are happier about it. 2015 OBP Australia. As a Brit, who has spent many years living in the US, workplaces to me were often places where people tried to avoid confrontation; skating around awkward conversations and hiding behind emails. I know this area quite well. Youll speak clearly and confidently so that people will definitely understand (and listen to) what you have to say. While such social transactions focus on inconsequential topics, they serve as important ways to build rapport, connection, and relationships. In a recent article on the topic, management experts Bob Frisch and Cary Greene summed it up this way, The chitchat, the side conversations that lift emotions and promote well-being is one way we strengthen and deepen relationships and is critical to building high performing teams. For these reasons, we encourage all our UGM clients to explore a range of ways they can intentionally facilitate in a virtual format those informal interactions that often arise spontaneously among colleagues who used to be face-to-face in the office every day. This small talk at the margins of a work conversation was probably something you scarcely even noticed. Although this mandatory fun might have felt a little awkward at first, the teams that didnt engage in such rituals struggled to adapt to the new normal and reported feeling less connected. The volume of the conversation will usually indicate how open it is for interjections. Im really looking forward to it. 2. Amid broad cost-cutting moves, Meta is shuttering the Facebook Watch originals group, whose small slate of shows included the breakout hit "Red Table Talk." We asked how much small talk they made at work each day and about their positive emotions (friendliness, pride, and gratitude) and ability to focus. While some may fall prey to conspiracy theories more easily, anyone can fall for the "right" one due to biases in how they process information. Managers and employees alike should be careful not to let social conversations take a negative turn. This is not necessarily desirable in the sense of work-life balance, but I would say the biggest change for me is in terms of productivity during working hours. Your private life is your life outside work. Candid to the core, Australians get straight to the point and I love them for it. Grant Thomson, managing director of Versent. 7 Inappropriate Conversation Topics in the Workplace In this post 1. Jessica Arrowsmith, beauty editor of Popsugar Australia. I use it all the time. How much detail should you give, if someone asks you a question? Women alienated from STEM careers by entrenched workplace cultures I grew up in the UK and started working as a management consultant in Sydney 12 years ago. Health Problems 5. Drawing on our research, we offer managers and employees the following advice: Encourage new social rituals. This gives you the chance to learn about new resources and gives your coworker the opportunity to share what interests them. Friendly social talk can come across as intrusive cross-examination. During election season, you will probably hear people mention their preferred candidates, but its usually best to avoid topics that can cause strong emotions, especially if you dont know your coworkers very well. If youre new to a team or department, you may want to find out more about your colleagues experience working with a certain project or a certain client. Dwelling on weather is one of the most common small conversation topics for almost any event in Great Britain. Even in the winter all these pubs are full of people out on the pavement having after-work drinks. How personal should you be? After she claimed I threatened to kill her and I was forced to apologize (obviously is was untrue as the conversation was witnessed by another coworker) she continued speaking to me as if nothing happened at all. At the same time, it enables them to show their wisdom from their past experiences, so once again, you show that you value their work. Sometimes I'm still surprised that we can speak the same language, and yet I've had conversations that have gone on for a few minutes before we've actually been able to communicate anything. We at Business Insider asked expats from our own office, and execs to find out what surprised them most about Australian working culture. 7 Inappropriate Conversation Topics in the Workplace But its also worth stating what small talk is not. Would you mind sharing your experience working with this client? I would say the key difference is that drinks on Friday or in the office is common in Australia, but in Malaysia you would need to do it outside work out of respect. I have read of racism, but I have never witnessed it, even in what might be considered a "redneck" place. Its hard enough for any newcomer to the workplace, but when youre operating outside your first culture, it can be even more stressful. When the meeting begins after this small episode of warmth, inclusion and collegiality, then conversations are generally more productive and creative, than meetings which have a cold start. This data helps us to gauge the effectiveness of our communications and marketing campaigns. You may want to check out this article on work-related small talk: https://englishwithkim.com/office-small-talk-interesting-work-related-questions/ However, these questions assume that you have a positive working relationship, so they may not work for your situation. When youre asked a version of this question, simply say, Im happy to share! and then give some details. Kit Young, head of photography at Vinomofo. As organizations consider their optimal post-pandemic remote-work strategy, theyll need practices to integrate small talk into their work ecosystems. Many critiques of small talk reference a demonstration organized by Duke University Psychologist Dan Ariely as evidence that there might be some real advantages from banishing small talk from our daily lives. (Check out my video on Hows your day been? and all its variations for more ideas on what to ask and how to respond. Massonstock, Elisa-Marie Dumas, head of partner development and corporate innovation at Investible. Why Is It That Some People Can Never Be Satisfied? If someone asks you this question, you can respond enthusiastically, saying, Ive gotten into or I love. Instead of preparing a list of killer ice-breakers to use at the interview: Dont use humour unless youre confident it will be taken in the right way. Knowing when to initiate small talk and also knowing when to move on and escalate the level of discourse beyond the mundane will make you a popular conversational partner. I have to say work is as equally social here as in London and NYC, but there's much more of a "work culture" in Australia. Anything youd like to share? One of the reasons I wanted to move here [from the UK] was the embrace the work-life balance culture The other thing is the time zone. Ignoring a person communicates power over them. However, Mehl repeated the study in 2018 with a much larger sample and a more sophisticated analysis of the data, and this time concluded that small talk does not undermine happiness and that it is associated with more happiness than one usually experiences when one is alone. In a taxi. He felt confused when he saw his colleagues blank faces. A superficial or light-hearted question can be taken at face value. I work as a receptionist on Fridays. Yanir Yakutiel, CEO and founder of Sail Funding. Four ways to encourage casual conversations in a virtual setting. However, its still related to work. Dont be afraid to ask your coworkers questions about themselves while interacting in the office or on Zoom! I'm Malaysian and used to work in Malaysia. Cultural diversity takes on a new meaning when you work in Australia. And talking about commuting, it is pretty different here. One probable upside is that these exchanges, though less spontaneous, are more inclusive giving everyone the opportunity to connect rather than leaving it to chance. "Small talk is not just a fluffy part of business - it has this real world outcome." "From a mental health perspective, anxiety and depression can be lessened through interaction with people and that sense of belonging and community," she says.