Inspire Team

Small Talk, Big Impression

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##career exploration
60 +
4

Goal

This activity aims to enhance learners’ communication skills for effective networking. It covers active listening, body language, engaging conversation, and the art of small talk. Learners will practice answering common networking prompts and develop strategies for follow-ups and maintaining connections.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Introduction:

      1. Briefly explain that the activity aims to improve their communication skills related to small talk.


    1. Review Effective Communication Essentials

      1. Briefly discuss the key elements of effective communication and provide an example of each or ask learners to provide an example:

        1. Active listening: showing genuine interest in the other person, prompting and responding to what they’ve said

        2. Positive body language: open and positive (nodding, encouraging), eye contact, gestures

        3. Engaging conversation: asking thoughtful questions, being an active participant in conversations (don’t make someone else carry the conversation!); understanding nonverbal cues (when someone is engaged or losing interest)

        4. Clarity in expression: express your thoughts and ideas clearly and succinctly (not being too wordy); avoiding jargon or specific terms that the general population wouldn’t know


    1. Small Talk Skills

      1. Define "small talk" and its purpose

        1. Polite conversation about non-important topics, often between people meeting for the first time. Offer examples like discussing the weather or weekend plans.

        2. Ask learns how they feel about small talk - does anyone feel like they are very good at it? Does anyone struggle or avoid it? Why?

          1. Ask learners to share what small talk looks like in their culture, noting any variances or differing perspectives about small talk.

      2. Discuss examples of small talk topics and encourage participants to share additional examples.

        1. What do you do?

        2. What brought you to this event?

        3. The weather

        4. What you did over the weekend, plans for the upcoming week

        5. Positive or interesting comments about the other person’s clothing, accessories etc.

        6. Local events / entertainment / recommendations

        7. The venue / food

    2. Small Talk Practice

      1. Conduct a brief role-play demonstration with a co-facilitator or a learner. Model initiating small talk, asking open-ended questions, and responding positively to cues. (This can also be modelled at the beginning of the session, before anything starts, and then referred back to later on)

      2. Pair learners and provide them with a small talk topic card (see Appendix A) or encourage them to choose a topic from the examples discussed.

      3. Each learner takes turns initiating and responding to small talk in a casual conversation.

      4. Bring the group back together and ask for reflections

      5. Discuss any challenges faced during the small talk practice and share positive experiences.

    3. Debrief

      1. Facilitate a debrief using the discussion questions provided. 

    Background

    Preparation

    • Familiarize yourself with the definitions and examples provided for effective communication essentials and small talk.

    • Ensure small talk topic cards (Appendix A) are prepared for distribution or display.

    • Arrange for a co-facilitator or identify a participant willing to assist with the role-play demonstration.

    Technology Considerations

    • No specific technology is required for this activity.

    • Ensure the room setup allows for effective group discussions and pair interactions.

    • If using virtual platforms, adapt the instructions accordingly and utilize breakout rooms for pair discussions.


    Additional Context

    • Emphasize that small talk is a universal skill with cultural nuances. Encourage participants to share their perspectives on small talk in their cultures.

    • Create a safe and inclusive environment for participants to express their comfort or challenges with small talk.


    Tips for Localization

    • Encourage participants to share examples of small talk in their cultural context.

    • Modify small talk topic examples to align with local customs and preferences.

    • Acknowledge and respect cultural differences in communication styles.


    Debrief Questions

    • What small talk topics did you find most comfortable engaging in?

    • Were there any challenges in initiating or responding to small talk? How did you overcome them?

    • What strategies can you apply to make small talk more effective in your future interactions?

    • How might you adjust your small talk approach based on cultural considerations?

    • In what ways can small talk contribute to building professional and personal connections and relationships?


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