SMALL TALK - QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Small talk has been around basically since humans started to socialize (even if we didn’t have a way to study or analyse it, it was still there). It initiates social connections, helps to keep them active and may lead to great outcomes.
RELATIONS BETWEEN SMALL TALK AND PEOPLE
Wanting or not, it is necessary. On an instinctive aspect, groups survive longer and with better life quality than those who decide to go solo. The “two minds think better than one” saying is absolutely correct. People communicate, and by doing so, create and maintain connections that are helpful for them. Small talk, in the majority of cases, is the way to start that connection.
With these connections getting stronger through time, we build a solid social network of our own. As said, humans have strong social behaviour, so in general we will always be interacting with several different types of people throughout our lives. Being able to maintain healthy connections gives the person a positive status. People tend to socialize with other good socializers, which is well exemplified with the popularity concept. Therefore, a popular person has more connections and more chances of benefiting from these connections, as well as more influence over his/her connections.
Small talk also is good for our health. People that are already social tend to love to start conversations and get to know all different types of people. It satiates their social needs and keeps them active and creative. Which brings us to the eye-opening aspect. By getting to know different backgrounds, the small talker has contact with different points of view and different opinions. This opens his/her mind to new levels and ways of thinking that improves problem solving skills. The more connections, the more different inputs on how to solve a problem. Thus, more critical analysis and more knowledge development.
Another big aspect is unpredictability. In a certain way, small talk can be compared to gambling. The outcome cannot be predicted with 100% of accuracy. However, it differs from gambling on the way that it’s free. Analysing the classical elevator situation, there are several possible outcomes. One thing in common between all of them is that the two subjects will have to take the elevator trip anyway. That way, any possible positive outcome will be great for them. Spontaneous small talk can lead to new professional contacts and up to million-dollar deals.
Small talk itself can be categorized in different types according to some indicators. The more common ones are the context it happens and the people and backgrounds it involves. Some examples are:
Getting-to-know conversation: consists mostly of open questions and elaborated answers. Intends to stablish a new connection between the individuals. The general context is where two individuals meet each other for the first time and have to create a connection;
Maintaining-the-connection conversation: consists of routine questions and quite specific answers. Intends to keep a connection between the individuals. The general context is where acquaintances, co-workers, classmates, etc already know each other and then have to keep their connection active;
Trivial conversation: consists of light topics, recent events and other not important subjects. Intends to fill free time or awkward silences, but can also be used on the previous two situations;
In summary, small talk is a social and emotional construct that has existed since the beginning of human socialization and will continue to exist because it’s necessary. It improves several skills and lays ground for development, improving general life quality. It’s safe to say that it’s a good mechanism and its use should be encouraged by every individual willing to improve their life and the environment they are situated.
Forbes Magazine: Six Reasons Small Talk Is Very Important And How To Get Better At It
http://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2012/03/30/six-reasons-small-talk-is-very-important-and-how-to-get-better-at-it/
Succeed Socially: Some Thoughts On The Point of Small Talk
http://www.succeedsocially.com/smalltalk
Real Simple: The 10 Big Rules of Small Talk
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/work-life-etiquette/manners/10-big-rules-small-talk
Adam Jaworski: Silence and small talk
https://www.academia.edu/5155681/Silence_and_small_talk