It was at first refreshing and absolutely terrifying in equal measure. Introductions. In this case, you have two options for continuing the conversation: Lets talk about some more engaging work-related questions first. observe what others do, especially those that seem socially adroit, practise some ice-breakers in a non-threatening environment where there is nothing at stake, join a club or special interest forum and mingle. Additionally, be alert for notes of stress and burnout in others. On the whole, it was clear to us that the positives of small talk outweighed the negatives and that those negatives could be managed. How personal should you be? We exchanged hellos with colleagues on our way in from the parking lot, chatted about our weekends while waiting for meetings to begin, and swapped stories about our families with our cube mates. Hi, very nice article. You could pretty much turn up on your own to your local knowing that there would be a ton of people you knew there. In other words, socio-pragmatic insights and skills are needed to manage good social relationships in the hybrid workplace. Yeah, no problems. (Supplied: Suvi Selenge) Life's wish. Great Britain = Similar to Australia, the British tend to prefer conservative, classic clothes and aim for darker colours like black, dark blue, and grey. I am really hopeful, however, that we can resolve some of these challenges and increase our ability to innovate and claim our spot in the global landscape. (Check out my video on Hows your day been? and all its variations for more ideas on what to ask and how to respond. That was one of the great myths put to rest I had never worked harder or longer hours in my life. We've fallen in to the trap of focusing on the 24-hour news cycle and the monthly results instead of having a long-term plan that involves real investment in our population and our capabilities. There's also much less hierarchy in workplaces here, compared with Asia for example. Having such a culture is attractive to prospective employees. Multiculturalism is very common in Australian workplace and diversity specific employee networks designed for staff to communicate, express their ideas, views and share information. Heres a slightly more positive sounding version of the same question: What worked well when dealing with this client? Liz Ferguson, managing director of Kin Community. First-rate analysis decoding the culture and speech norms of the American Workplace. People chat as they go up in a lift together; when they grab a coffee or eat their lunch; as they wait for a meeting to start or when theyre packing up their papers at the end. After checking in with your coworker, the conversation may end as you both head back to your work. Before Covid, you probably chatted casually with your colleagues for a few minutes as you all arrived in a meeting room and settled down for a team catch up. A recent INSEAD study of more than 500 professionals working remotely across the world showed that the teams that were thriving in the new virtual environment were formally scheduling social gatherings involving quizzes, shared playlists, book recommendations, and movie clubs. But there are social risks for outsiders. Thank you so much for sharing. Consequently, you get to learn more across a wider portfolio, either horizontally or vertically. Can a Relationship Work When One Partner Is Much Older Than the Other? The first thing I noticed when I got my contract was the 8.30am start time. Very polite! I think it's a combination of more than two decades of steady job creation and an industrial relations environment that makes it extremely difficult to sack people. Required fields are marked *. In both cases, people are signaling a desire to establish a mutually comfortable level of involvement in the conversation. I've known lots of expats who've transferred with their company and realised they totally underestimated the cost of living, especially if they planned to stay long term and buy a home. We find that this small talk promotes solidarity and establishes what might be termed the interactive climate of the meeting. All guests were required to arrive at exactly the same time, and the hosts provided index cards with meaningful conversation starters. Im sorry to hear that youre concerned about offending someone. There is not the profit margin or volume to hire or bring in more resources. However, it can be a little unnatural if you try to introduce it into the conversation. We should all have techniques to break the ice, so everyone can feel relaxed and be themselves. You have to keep testing your assumptions and observations with your stakeholders internally and externally to check that you understand their priorities, the opportunities and the problems we are trying to solve together. To resolve these views, the authors did a 15-day study of the impact that small talk had on 151 workers. Rather than being antagonistic to each other, these different types of talk are strategies that work in tandem to create effective relationships. Your relationship status is considered part of your private life, and its completely normal not to mention anything about your relationships outside of work. While such social transactions focus on inconsequential topics, they serve as important ways to build rapport, connection, and relationships. It's been nearly 20 years since I, a Pom, arrived in Australia from London (via two years in Hong Kong), to take over a the local office of New York-based ad agency. Small Talk. Massonstock, Elisa-Marie Dumas, head of partner development and corporate innovation at Investible. As well as fostering trust, networks and connection, small talk also helps people transition from activity to activity throughout the working day. When I first started working in Australia I was immediately struck by the "work hard, play hard" culture that was often talked about. You should avoid talking about your coworkers family, unless youre 100% sure that they have children. Its natural to feel frustrated at work, but try to keep these conversations out of the office. Not having to justify early/ late lunches is very pleasant! In this video, youll learn how to start small talk in the office. I encourage you to check out this article for more topics to talk about with your colleagues: https://englishwithkim.com/small-talk-better-questions-keep-conversation-going/ I share how asking questions can help keep the conversation going. Aside from talking about minor illnesses like colds and allergies, you should avoid asking any questions about your coworkers health. Even if you work remotely and check in with your manager and your coworkers over video conference or even on the phone, youll probably spend a few minutes making small talk at the beginning. Dwelling on weather is one of the most common small conversation topics for almost any event in Great Britain. By asking a question like this, you give your coworker a chance to share any recent successes that have led to these new projects or these new clients. Am I required to make small talk? In the work context, it means projects that will begin shortly. 2015 OBP Australia. Most taxi drivers love to have a chat so it's the perfect opportunity to practise your conversation skills in small talk. While some may fall prey to conspiracy theories more easily, anyone can fall for the "right" one due to biases in how they process information. Starting the conversation with a positive attitude expressed through your tone of voice helps them feel more ready to engage with you. This small talk at the margins of a work conversation was probably something you scarcely even noticed. Cookies allow us to record important information about how you arrive at, use, and move through this website. Frank McAndrew, Ph.D., is the Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox College. One of the conclusions that many drew from these results was that engaging in small talk diminishes ones well-being. I cant wait to hear more the next time I see you. Small caps Aura Energy, IperionX chasing equity. 7 Inappropriate Conversation Topics in the Workplace In this post 1. Learn more and adjust your preferences in Cookie Settings. Not necessarily a bad thing, just visibly different. I have Autism and am 22 years old. Small talk is particularly important in cultures where people do not like awkward silences and broadly speaking, Australia is one of those cultures. Kim, I have a lot of additional resources on intonation and tone of voice that can help you: https://englishwithkim.com/category/intonation/. When it's done right small talk can help create a golden workplace culture where people feel safe, secure, and at home. You can also show that you were listening by repeating something that they mentioned, along with a plan to put it into practice. Another topic to avoid is relationship status. Small talk is extremely important but its also socially and culturally complex. Managers and employees alike should be careful not to let social conversations take a negative turn. If someone asks you the question, you can start with, Yes, Im excited to share that Ill soon be working on/with. Bradley Delamare, CEO of Tank Stream Labs. I was given a write up for that. A sales division in the UK would have 2000 people here, maybe 10 per cent of that number. Instead of preparing a list of killer ice-breakers to use at the interview: Dont use humour unless youre confident it will be taken in the right way. One of the reasons I wanted to move here [from the UK] was the embrace the work-life balance culture The other thing is the time zone. Small talk turns out to be a big deal! How have you managed (this challenging situation or problem)? This helps us to make the content on this website better for visitors. It may seem boring, but it is considered a friendly way to start conversation with someone in English. Here are some neutral topics that you can use to make small talk in the workplace: As you can see, there are a lot of potential topics, they just take practice. High-performance, remote teams thrive when there is a culture of trust and people share a common sense of purpose. Team members feel that their colleagues are competent and reliable, that they will make good on their promises and will give support when you need it. If youre working in a traditional office where you get to see your coworkers every day, there are so many opportunities for you to interact: walking through the hallway, passing by their offices, stopping by their desks, in the kitchen, or the cafeteria. Whether youre asking about a challenge or you simply want to hear your coworkers perspective on staying organized, managing their to-do list, scheduling meetings, or bookkeeping, this question shows that youre interested in your coworkers style of work. The positive effect of these small regular exchanges builds working trust and good relations. Can you provide some tips for people who are also new to a workplace and relatively new to America on what kind of small talk they can engage in. Drawing on our research, we offer managers and employees the following advice: Encourage new social rituals. It sounds super interesting. Its on route to my sisters house. Small talk at work can quickly lead to complaining about dislikes at the company, annoying coworkers, and pet peeves. In a Melbourne workplace, where talk was recorded by researchers, the ubiquitous Australian Monday morning greeting of did you have a good weekend? was met with a lengthy and detailed account by a migrant colleague who outlined their entire schedule over the two days, instead of just mentioning one or two highlights. Once your coworker mentions that they have children, then you can ask some questions about the family. Cookie Policy |Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy. It oils the wheels and makes it easier to pick up the phone and ask someone for some information or assistance that will help you progress a tricky step or navigate a blockage in a pressing project. So, I dont talk. I want to remind you to be careful when discussing work. With a more senior colleague, you may want to use more polite language. In British work culture it's considered perfectly okay to invest in high-end clothing and to wear designer items - in fact, it's often encouraged as it shows status and affluence. Make Small Talk an intentional item on your agenda at the start or end of a meeting. Leave a comment and let me know two questions that you think youll use with your coworkers and colleagues. General small talk topics- how was your weekend? PostedJanuary 18, 2020 With practice, you will feel more confident that what you say will be received the way you intend. In other words, a script functions as a detailed guide outlining what behaviours are appropriate in a given situation. How do you know what to share or ask other people about during these short episodes of social talk? Necessary and Functionality Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. "No worries" actually means just that. Learning what is appropriate to say in certain situations will come with time, but you need to work at it and challenge yourself by stepping out of your social comfort zone. How long should you speak? I have to say work is as equally social here as in London and NYC, but there's much more of a "work culture" in Australia. Whereas here it's a lot of "if I don't go now, my next ferry is an hour". The good news is that the virtual landscape presents a surprising opportunity to enhance the value of small talk. You will make mistakes; we all do. We asked how much small talk they made at work each day and about their positive emotions (friendliness, pride, and gratitude) and ability to focus. You may want to check out this article on work-related small talk: https://englishwithkim.com/office-small-talk-interesting-work-related-questions/ However, these questions assume that you have a positive working relationship, so they may not work for your situation. Many people suggest that footy talk is a good option at an interview, which is probably true. So if you can laugh at your own mistakes and give as good as you get, you'll be embraced into both professional and social life. In some ways it puts you off, as it's just hassle. Of course, there are some topics that you should avoid in the American workplace, especially if youre new and dont know your coworkers well. Im.quite I never know when Im.gonna offend someone. Re-create casual collisions. Some organizations have found creative ways to orchestrate informal virtual interactions among employees. It has been invaluable for relationship building. Platforms like Airmeet set up virtual speed networking for employees. Similarly, we often avoid talking about family. In short, being adept with small talk is an important component of your arsenal of social skills. With lighter intonation, the person will feel like youre truly interested in their answer. Once again, I encourage you to keep it positive, but you may be able to ask the other person for some help or some advice. They reduce the uncertainty and sense of personal risk that any new behaviour initially carries, especially for those from under-represented groups. When jobs are as secure as they are in Australia, there is less of an incentive to be a star performer, to come in every day and smash it out of the park. Our American friends found concepts such as workplace profanity, four weeks' annual leave, regular intra-office romantic liaisons and an open bar on Friday afternoons anathema to their own experiences. Small talk is a perfect topic to study whether you're advanced or just starting to learn English for beginners. Im happy to hear youre feeling more confident making small talk now! I hope you enjoy learning through the resources here on my website I talk a lot about conversation skills and communication techniques. Many people say that small talk energizes them and makes them feel seen. As one employee of a midsize accounting firm told us, Your coworkers dont necessarily need to know every detail of your life, but it certainly helps everyone feel like a real person. No wonder so many of us are mourning the loss of small talkduring the pandemic-driven work-from-home boom. It can even help you get access to more job opportunities because your coworkers will have a chance to get to know you. Yes, of course, you are bound to be disappointed if all of your conversations are nothing more than superficial loops of chatter about things that no one really cares about; but the skilled conversationalist knows how to use small talk as a social lubricant and as a segue to deeper topics. The reality is that if you come from working across markets such as Europe or the US, the size of organisations and industry is much smaller here. It keeps me busy. Small talk breaks down barriers and, over time, helps people build even modest friendships. Im starting my first job soon at Spec Savers and will be using your tips to try and help me as its all new to me. For example, a manager may be persuaded of the wide range of advantages small talk will deliver to the team, but feel socially hesitant or uncertain. Tammy Law. With flatter intonation, they may think youre checking up on them. If youve ever avoided a conversation with a colleague, or felt like you were strangely silent when your coworker tried to engage you in a conversation, this video will help. As we navigate endless Zoom meetings and new work/life challenges, lets not underestimate the value of small talk. Keeping these cookies enabled helps us to improve our website and provide better resources. The volume of the conversation will usually indicate how open it is for interjections. While everyone likes to talk about the weather, women are also likely to compliment each others clothing and appearance, whereas men are more likely to employ playful insults. Money 3. Small talk should be polite, surface level, and focused on neutral topics, like the weather, sports, and TV shows. Wow, thanks for letting me know! Dont be afraid to reveal a little about yourself; if you open up, others will too. thoughtful questions to check-in during a crisis, Small Talk and Conversations in American English, Four Tips for a More Natural American Accent. Your intention should be to get to know your colleagues so you can have meaningful conversations about common interests. Youre trying to find solutions! How to Say All 50 US States with Clear Word Stress ?? This small talk at the margins of a work conversation was probably something you scarcely even noticed. The workplace culture in Australia allows people to socialise during their working hours. This is a small but meaningful gesture in a world that's wholly connected over a digital network. Try these thoughtful questions to check-in during a crisis.). which can prove beneficial in improving socialization between employees . It contributes to employees positive emotions and sense of well-being, belonging and connection. "Aussies are social and enjoy small talk, both in the office and out, so it will help you relate if you can get comfortable with it as well. Though easy, this approach is extremely effective: Research shows that employees feel the greatest sense of belonging at work when their coworkers simply text or email to ask how theyre doing. Ive been focused on the presentation for my biggest client later this week. Silence can be awkward, whether its in the lunch room or during a job interview. Scandinavians, on the other hand, are more comfortable with awkward silences than with awkward small talk, and the British TV show Very British Problems devoted an entire episode to the excruciating tactics that many Brits will resort to in an attempt to avoid small talk. Tenth graders who dont date are more socially skilled and less depressed. You see this person every day, so you probably already know how theyre doing, without even asking the question. And each night they reported their levels of well-being and prosocial behaviors. How do you enter the workplace social inner sanctum? Stick to the script. Now that you understand how to start a conversation in the office and how to make small talk with your coworkers and colleagues, its time to practice. Ignore the rules and think about the real issues. How much detail should you give, if someone asks you a question? I know this area quite well. Matthew Kates, country manager for Australia and New Zealand at Zerto. I would rather kill myself than talk about My Kitchen Rules at work every day (This is an example of exaggeration also commonly used in Australia. New online apps, such as Water Cooler, allow employees to pick a time to chat with coworkers about shared interests, hobbies, or fitness goals. These are just suggested ice-breakers that may help you develop more meaningful collegial relationships. This website uses cookies in order to understand how you use the site so you have the best experience. This is because scripts conserve cognitive capacity by supporting desired behaviours. Here are. Employers in low-paid industries will be forced to lift the wages of migrant workers by up to $16,000 from July, under an Albanese government overhaul that could cut access to foreign hospitality . Religion is a very personal belief for many people, and its considered to be part of your private life. Jessica Arrowsmith, beauty editor of Popsugar Australia. It does require an awareness of cultural nuance that you may not have, and often humour doesnt translate well between languages and culture. But if youre both taking a longer break, preparing coffee or tea, or waiting for photocopies, you may have a little bit more time to talk. I have read of racism, but I have never witnessed it, even in what might be considered a "redneck" place. He felt confused when he saw his colleagues blank faces. Youll speak clearly and confidently so that people will definitely understand (and listen to) what you have to say. However, I also noticed that it didn't come at the cost of hours put in at work. This story first appeared in Business Insider. One probable upside is that these exchanges, though less spontaneous, are more inclusive giving everyone the opportunity to connect rather than leaving it to chance. Thanks for sharing your experience. According to one study, 38% of Brits had small talks about the weather during their last 6 hours of the day. Stuart Allinson, managing director of BidEnergy. Self-identified cat people have more unusual personality traits than dog people. Think of small talk as a tool that negotiates and defines a relationship. Using the word manage shows that youre not complaining; youre trying to adapt. In addition, even among native speakers of English, some people are more socially adroit than others. I would say the key difference is that drinks on Friday or in the office is common in Australia, but in Malaysia you would need to do it outside work out of respect. We definitely behave and speak differently around colleagues context is key to communicating well. For example, they might remember your name and email in comment forms so you dont have to re-enter this information next time when commenting. Here's four tips for making small talk: Devices down Listen first Ask open questions Respond enthusiastically 1. What projects are keeping you busy these days? Frank: My God, Cheryl! Your ability to fit it can have a major influence on your career progression or whether you win that job interview. Do you dread trading niceties with retail clerks and assorted other strangers when you are out in public? The country is so big that it covers five distinct time zones, so if you want to run a national business you need to cover a huge range of business hours that would be the equivalent of supporting a customer base in Western Europe or North America but with a much smaller population and potential market. One Spark client at a global law firm explained, During the pandemic it was important to us to make sure employees were still making the random connections you might find in a shared office space to help with innovation, building networks, and collaboration. Irony and sarcasm are common in Australia, which can occasionally offend someone who is not familiar with this aspect of the culture. You won't be living by the beach because you won't be able to afford it. The issue today is that the move to remote work environment is cutting many people off from workplace small talk. | A great workplace culture promotes productivity because it motivates employees to work harder. If someone asks you this question, you can respond enthusiastically, saying, Ive gotten into or I love. Does your blood run cold when you receive an invitation to a cocktail party? Weight and Physical Appearance Published on July 8, 2019 7 Inappropriate Conversation Topics in the Workplace Claudia Reiners In this post Show Yanir Yakutiel, CEO and founder of Sail Funding. However, Mehl repeated the study in 2018 with a much larger sample and a more sophisticated analysis of the data, and this time concluded that small talk does not undermine happiness and that it is associated with more happiness than one usually experiences when one is alone. We're lucky enough to have a culture that encourages early adoption, so why don't we see more risk being taken? Sensitivity is important for romantic relationships, but limited indifference is also valuable. Xander Addington, research & insights analyst at Allure Media. This is coming partly from working smarter, but also from taking more time than 12 years ago out of family and social time. Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor. Other things I noticed are: There aren't as many big corporates, so lots of other business people I meet are in small businesses or start-ups. I'm Malaysian and used to work in Malaysia. Ideally, focus on small talk that encourages the person to say, "Tell me more" or to contribute their perspective to the conversation. The first thing I'd say is that the cultural differences were clearly less apparent to me than they were to my colleagues from the US head office. You got something out of the conversation! I grew up in the UK and started working as a management consultant in Sydney 12 years ago. Im really looking forward to it. Just past Epping, but I normally go via the ring road. Nice to meet you, Alicia! When you trust people and feel they trust you in return, you can speak up, argue and disagree productively for the benefit of your shared goals. Even when meeting participants are present and ready to go, they may not actually unmute or turn on their video function until the meeting is formally started by whoever is in the chair. For those of you from the sub-continent, cricket is an excellent conversation topic. When you ask these questions, pay attention to your intonation. As organizations consider their optimal post-pandemic remote-work strategy, theyll need practices to integrate small talk into their work ecosystems. It helps you learn a little more about whats going on in your office. I just want to ask more example of conversation between new employee to a colloegue about how the new employee asked for help how to install /upload system ..and what are the sample converation during the workplace. Bane Hunter, executive director of GetSwift, Seven out of ten Australians think English is crucial to national identityDavid Freund. Anything youd like to share? Australians seem to appreciate that they spend more time with their colleagues than anyone else. You'll find Aussies all over the world doing the same thing. So, dont try something like this until you get to know a person very well. The same goes for securing a deal, it's a straight-up-and-down process: lawyer, office, papers signed and you're done. Ice-breakers at the interview are even more difficult because most often it is the first time youve met the interviewers. So if you want an easy way to start a conversation with someone in a pub or anywhere really, especially if there's a match on, then knowing a little bit about the game is going to help you. I also feel like people socialise less after work here than in London. It should never devolve into gossip especially about the company or other employees which breeds incivility, cynicism, and distrust. In Asia and other places I've worked, final deals are almost always made culturally. Before you can get to know someone, it's a good idea to introduce yourself. Things are slower than usual, so Ive been able to work through my to-do list. The small personal disclosures that characterise social chitchat among co-workers show goodwill towards each other. And then nothing! Your email address will not be published. Do you go out of your way to avoid neighbors and co-workers so that you do not have to engage in idle chitchat about the weather and other equally inoffensive topics? I use it all the time. The evidence from our clients aligns with other research. If this sounds like you, then you have an aversion to small talk. Can you help, Hi Hina. There was another incident where I finally told her I didnt like her when she asked why I didnt want to be chatty. Once you start to get to know people better, you dont have as much need for small talk. Men have long been silent and stoic about their inner lives, but theres every reason for them to open up emotionallyand their partners are helping. Even Sydney Airport Arrivals has this plastered on a massive wall as soon as you get out of customs! Reviewed by Davia Sills. Research even suggests that chance encounters and spontaneous conversations with our coworkers can spark collaboration, improving our creativity, innovation, and performance.