Small talk: Let’s get real

Melissa Noonan  //  December 7, 2012

I am not a fan of small talk. However, I’ve learned during my work placements that this is a necessary skill to acquire and develop.

I would hardly consider myself well-versed in this field, but I have picked up two points that I believe will be of some use to a co-op student, particularly someone who is embarking on his or her first workplace experience.

1) Know the weather forecast for the week.

You can guarantee that this topic will come up in at least two common areas: the elevator and the lunchroom.

I’m not particularly fond of discussing weather. But small talk is a reality of our culture – when alone with a stranger, you often feel an obligation to be friendly and have a conversation with them. Most people will turn to the weather; it is something we all have in common and something we either curse or marvel at together.

I’ve figured out my own trick to help navigate this monotonous subject. I’ve noticed that the conversation can turn around if you have a little extra nugget in your back pocket. Here’s an example:

Co-worker in the elevator: “Oh my, it’s been so rainy lately.”

Me: “Yes, at least we didn’t get hit by [insert hurricane of the week].”

Co-worker in the elevator: “Yeah, I vacationed there with my kids last year.”

Me: “Oh, how many kids do you have?”

Co-worker in the elevator: “Eleven.”

Me: “…”

By knowing the weather forecast, or an extra interesting detail, a stranger can turn into an acquaintance. That means next time you run into each other, you have something to talk about other than the precipitation that falls from the sky… as it often does.

2) Every day of the week has a meaning.

I’ve decoded each day of the week so you have a have a better idea of what I’m talking about. Understanding the office culture is a crucial step in small talk survival. To spice up these standard topics, I’ve also included a few suggestions of alternative conversation starters.

Monday

If you’ve watched Office Space, you’re familiar with the famous and over-used quote, “Someone’s got a case of the Mondays” (Riedel & Judge, 1999). This excuse appears often in office culture. If you are cranky – it’s Monday’s fault. If you struggle through a presentation, it’s Monday’s fault. If you send an email to “All Staff” instead of “Allison Smith” – that is definitely Monday’s fault. So don’t worry about it, all you have to say is, “Sorry everyone, it’s Monday.” They will give you a sympathetic nod and all is forgiven. Five words: get out of jail free.

Conversation Starter: “Anyone read Shades of Grey?”

Tuesday & Thursday

These are both reflective days. On Tuesdays, everyone is thankful it’s no longer Monday, and on Thursday everyone is excited for Friday. They tend to be fairly busy bordering on the line of productive.

Conversation Starter: “Did you know that a duck’s ‘quack’ doesn’t echo and no one knows why?”

Wednesday 

Aw, hump day – the halfway point and heart of the week. Relief pretty much sums up this day. Everyone is relieved that they got through the first half of the week, and relieved there’s only two more days until that beautiful thing called the weekend arrives.

Conversation Starter: “Does anyone know the words to Ice Ice Baby?”

Friday

This day is magical. Everyone is always happy on Friday, and if they’re not, someone will be sure to say, “cheer up, it’s Friday” or “only [however many] more hours until five o’clock!” After that – two full days where you can do whatever the funk you want. Fridays also go hand in hand with lunch outings, or at least some sort of treat that the honourary office mom brought into share. If there’s ever a day to forget your lunch, remember to make it Friday.

Conversation Starter: “Can anyone explain what’s the deal with airline food?”

This article is by no means a fool-proof guide for your office experience. Just smile, and realize this is all part of getting to know someone. Next time you run into a co-worker, try something new to break the ice – you might surprise yourself and find that office life can be a lot more interesting than you expected.

 

 

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After graduating from Dalhousie University with a BA, honouring in theatre, Melissa Noonan travelled Atlantic Canada, acting with various theatre companies. Within a few years, she experienced a quintessential quarter-life-crisis and decided to switch gears. Looking to keep creativity in her life, she began a second degree in public relations at Mount Saint Vincent University. Noonan is currently in her final year of the PR program and has communications experience in federal and provincial agencies, as well as with non-profits and private businesses. In her spare time she can be found running in the woods, somewhere near a stage or drinking wine with loved ones.

 

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