Subject
Friendly, professional, low-risk conversation for coworkers, meetings, networking, and work events.
Use the free tools to rehearse meeting small talk, workplace follow-ups, and low-pressure professional conversation.
To make small talk at work, start with something you and your coworker are both in right now (the meeting, the Monday, the queue for the coffee machine), ask one easy question, add one small detail about yourself, and leave while it still feels good. We call it Notice, Ask, Add, Go. Two friendly minutes beat ten forced ones.
"How's your week shaping up?"
"Busy. We launch on Thursday."
"Oh, this Thursday? Mine's all meetings until then. Good luck with it, I'll let you get back to it."
That is a complete, successful exchange. You don't need to be funny, and you don't need to do it all day: a 2021 study of daily office chit-chat found it lifted people's mood and made them more helpful, and also pulled them out of focus. Short and warm gets you the first part without much of the second.
Full guide → How to Make Small Talk at Work and With Coworkers: 80 Examples by Moment
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