E324 | How to Get Good at Small Talk Even if You Hate It

The Art Of Coaching

Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation and thought “can we just cut to the chase?”

For some people small talk seems like a complete waste of time, a painful variation of the verbal headlock. There are other people who seem to naturally flow through these conversations using them to build relationships with a diverse group of people, while simultaneously keeping their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in their communities.

In today’s episode, we dive deep on these surface level conversations in a way that no one has before. We discuss:

• The ramifications of refusing to engage in them and their evolutionary importance
• How our drives play a direct role in our approach and goals for these interactions
• Tips to manage and mitigate the cognitive load these conversations cost
• Practical strategies for navigating and reaping the benefits from small talk

Today’s episode was made as a result of listener questions and situations attendees at our latest workshop wanted help with. Reach out to us at [e-mail] or visit artofcoaching.com/question if there’s something you’d like to hear about on the podcast.

Referenced Resources:

Take our Drives Quiz!

Referenced Material:

E130: How Understanding Drives Helps Build Buy-In

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