You walk into a room full of strangers and you immediately freeze—wait, no you don't. Instead, you start some light, easy banter with the group of people closest to you. Then you move on to another group. At the end of the meeting or the conference or the party, you leave with a whole new set of connections. It's not an impossible dream.
No communication skill is more important in the world than small talk, says communication coach Carol Fleming. It's how you negotiate the beginning of all relationships. What is more, Fleming reveals, contrary to what most people say, they actually love small talk. Very few of us don't enjoy chewing the fat, shooting the breeze, or otherwise catching up with loved ones and old friends. That's small talk! It's just the one little bit about strangers that throws people off.
Small talk with strangers is a skill, one Fleming has taught to scores of avowed wallflowers. She covers the inner and outer aspects—from the right attitude to how to dress, move around, and introduce yourself. Most importantly, she lays out a series of simple, memorable conversational strategies that make it easy to go from “Nice weather we're having” to a genuine, rewarding give-and-take.
Carol Fleming won't tell you what to say. Believe it or not, you've already got what you need inside you. She merely provides the keys to unlock it.
The Serious Business of Small Talk: Becoming Fluent, Comfortable, and Charming| Carol A. Fleming PhD (Author)| Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: How Do You Do?
Part I: THE BASICS
Chapter 1. What Is Small Talk For?
Chapter 2. How Do We Go About Changing?
Chapter 3. Why Is “Talkin’ About Nothin' so Darned Hard?
Chapter 4. Small Talk 101
Chapter 5. ARE: Anchor, Reveal, Encourage
Chapter 6. Just Say Hello, Leo
Chapter 7. Starting from Social Ground Zero
Chapter 8. Being More Attractive
Chapter 9. Being More Interesting
Chapter 10. Being More Interested
Chapter 11. Won’t You Have Some of My Spiced Nuts?
Chapter 12. Being Approachable
Part II: BECOMING EVEN MORE FLUENT, COMFORTABLE, AND CHARMING
Chapter 13. Hi, My Name Is . . .
Chapter 14. Eating, Drinking, and Walking Around
Chapter 15. The Mystery of Good Manners
Chapter 16. Men Versus Women: Clash of the Communication Styles
Chapter 17. How Do I Get Out of This?
Chapter 18. What Are You Saying About You?
Chapter 19. How to Raise Fluent, Comfortable, and Charming Kids
Chapter 20. Small Talk and Cell Phones, Like Oil and Water
CONCLUSION: Small Talk Just May Be Bigger than You Think
Resources
Bibliography
LINK FOR THE BOOK