23-06-2025
Small talk isn't worthless. Here's how to use it to accelerate your career
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'I heard it's supposed to rain this weekend.' 'How about those Cubs?' 'Did you hear Ed, the escaped zebra from Tennessee?'
If you groan at the thought of small talk, you're not alone. More than 70% of Americans said they'd prefer to just sit in silence over talking about the weather, sports, or current events, according to a survey by the online education site Preply.
While small talk is often viewed as the unnecessary fluff that comes before something real is discussed, that attitude doesn't do its importance justice, says Deb Feder, author of Tell Me More: Building Trusted Client Relationships through Everyday Interactions.
'I think small talk is where the 'real' is found,' she says. 'It's where the depth of a relationship can really be cemented. It's taking conversations and allowing them to evolve by getting curious and by taking time to get to know others.'
