Connect First: 52 Simple Ways to Ignite Success, Meaning, and Joy at Work

42

BE A PERSON FIRST!

Help Strangers Feel Less Strange

You don’t have to be brilliant, just nice.

—BERNARDO CARDUCCI, PHD, former director of the Shyness Research Institute

When it comes to small talk, your words may be forgotten, but how you make people feel will be remembered. Light chatter may seem trite, but it’s the small talk that leads to the big talk. Studies show that tossing in a bit of interpersonal prattle builds bonds at the office, engenders a feeling of well-being, and creates a welcome break. The goal is not to become best friends; it’s simply the enjoyment of sharing a topic of mutual interest—for a few minutes. There are painfully ...