Focus on creating a positive emotional impact through communication, rather than just the words spoken.
Engage in small talk by asking better questions, making observations, and ending conversations positively for lasting connections.
Deep dives
Creating Intrigue in Small Talk
Small talk can be engaging if we move away from predictable questions like 'What do you do?' Instead of being a data collector, aim to be intriguing by asking better questions and giving unexpected answers. By creating intrigue, conversations become more enjoyable and memorable, fostering better communication in various settings.
Starting and Ending Small Talk Smoothly
Initiating small talk can be less daunting by making observations about the environment, initiating a connection, and creating familiarity. Ending conversations positively using techniques like the 'white flag' approach where a final question and a compliment leave a lasting favorable impression, ensuring a pleasant recollection of the interaction.
Effective Communication Across Contexts
Effective communication, whether in romantic, professional, or platonic settings, emphasizes focusing on how you make someone feel rather than just the words spoken. Genuine interest in others' stories, leaning into topics that interest them, and avoiding communication pitfalls like being a comedian or a mirror can foster stronger connections and positive impressions.
Whether you’re trying to build a romantic or professional connection, Rachel Greenwald’s advice is exactly the same. “Focus on how you make someone feel more than you focus on the words that you're saying,” she says.
As a professional coach, Greenwald helps people develop better communication skills, from executives in the business world to singles in the dating world. Building deep connections may at times be challenging, but as Greenwald says, it’s ultimately not complicated. “You're demonstrating that you're interested in someone and that you like them,” she says.
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Greenwald and host Matt Abrahams discuss relationship-building tactics like small talk, active listening, communication blindspots, and more.