Why Small Talk Isn’t as Fruitless or Shallow as You Might Think

Without it, you might not move onto the conversations you really want

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Some of us hate small talk. We may even turn down invitations to parties because we want to avoid it: The thought of entering meaningless conversations is a turnoff. But are we right to dismiss verbal pleasantries as unprofitable? And can we turn light conversations into more dynamic communication?

Why we might hate small talk

It’s hard to avoid idle banter at social gatherings. We sometimes meet it on the street, at work, and when we speak on the phone too. And although we understand it’s respectful to engage in small talk at times, we may also dislike it for various reasons.

•We could imagine the exchange of pleasantries — often involving remarks about the weather or where we live — is a waste of time. They don’t seem valuable, and we must repeat the same old stories often.

•It’s conceivable we may also think small talk stops us from entering more meaningful conversations that aid personal growth or delving into crucial issues like global warming or human rights.

•Sometimes, we might fear small talk because we think it encourages people to judge us. After all, it can reveal…