How much of our communication is small/surface talk? Are we missing an opportunity to build more meaningful relationships?
We live in a fast-paced world. We regularly have communication on and off the job with friends, family, co-workers, clients, and management. We communicate through many mediums such as social media, over the phone, face to face, and even through emojis.
Small/surface talk is a polite conversation about unimportant topics. Traditionally, it’s used during social situations or when trust is not yet built.
Think about your day. Who did you interact with and how? Was it just surface or does it have the potential to be more meaningful? How fruitful was that communication?
The Challenge: Take a moment to think of what you learned today about a surface friend, estranged family member, a co-worker, a client, or a manager. What could you have said to engage past surface talk? How can your next encounter with them be thoughtful and impactful?
Practice scenarios:
- Your (name of person) told you she was getting (promoted, married, a puppy, ready to take a vacation to a destination you have already visited).
- Your (name of person) told you he was (having a bad day, stressed, is taking care of an ill loved one). This was my image inspiration for this post.
#TipsForTheWeek #Thoughtfullness #Communication #Relationships