Small talk usually brings to mind nothing but a shallow conversation, devoid of any meaning or purpose. And this image is unfortunately true in many cases, but only because our ability to talk to each other has been steadily deteriorating.

And yet, there are some situations where you will have to talk and your smartphone will not help you much. So, how to be a better conversationalist?

Start here:How to Be a Better Conversationalist

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Glossary

• cringe
• apprehend
• unanimous
• retrieve
• rule of tumb
• epiphany

Think about it

Answer the questions below.

• Why does Jason Sweet cringe when He remem bers the party in Atlanta 10 years ago?
• What is experts’ opinion on small talk?
• What stages does a successful conversation have?
• Why shouldn’t you worry about awkward silence?
• Which tip about small talk do you find most helpful? Why?

Practice makes perfect

Fill in the blank spaces with the missing letters.

Some people d_ _m _ _s small talk as mere chitchat, an unnecessary and annoying w_ _ _e of time. Many men consider it a female thing. But experts say c_s_ al conversation is essential social g_ea_e—a ritual that helps us connect with friends, c_ll_ _g_ _s and people we’ve just met.

Fill in the blank spaces with the correct forms of the words in capitals.

We can use small talk to signal our ________ FRIEND intent and to get people to like us. It can lead to more ________ SIGNIFY conversations that spark ________ FRIEND and clinch deals. Still, for many it remains a ________ MYSTERY and ________ CHALLENGE art.

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