Belle’s World – Smalltalk
The Power of Authentic Conversation
We’ve all been there - making awkward small talk with a stranger at a networking event or party. You comment on the weather, the food, the venue, but never move past surface-level niceties. You walk away without making any real connections. There has to be a better way, right?
We often default to superficial small talk because it feels safe and comfortable. The problem is it lacks authenticity and prevents us from connecting on a deeper level. Diving right into extremely personal topics can also feel jarring when you barely know someone. There's a balance between staying surface level and oversharing.
The key is being willing to open up a bit and share real things happening in your life and what makes you tick. People connect with vulnerability and humanity. Don't just discuss the weather or generic trivia. Offer insight into your perspective, experiences, interests and struggles. Sometimes I just talk about what is happening in my life, whether its personal, professional or social. I then ask the question to the other person and they feel comfortable talking about what is happening with them. Allowing us to continue the conversation knowing some insights into what matters to the other person.
Listen fully when the other person shares in turn. Have a real, two-way conversation.
When you move past shallow small talk, you build understanding and rapport. Doors open for networking in a more meaningful way.
Next time you're making small talk, challenge yourself to get real. Share something about your life or an experience that shaped you. Listen deeply. You may be surprised by the new understanding and connections that emerge.
Authentic conversation requires some courage but yields so much reward in the form of human connection. You have so much to offer the world, perspectives and stories worth sharing. Small talk is the easy route - but forging genuine connections makes life so rich.
What’s one topic or experience you can share to have more authentic conversations?
Welcome to Belle’s world. Everything in this world is based on a bell curve. Our media concentrates on giving advice to make everyone be a part of the masses. Belle's world focuses on the outer extremes of the bell curve.
This is a series of our CEO's insights and her perception of the world. They say perception is reality and she lives in her own fantasy world. This allows her to delve into the human element of our lives, helping individuals decipher their own souls, to understand, who they are and what they want, in the journey of life. As an executive coach | connector | cognitive diversity catalyst, our CEO see things from a different light that defies normal logic. These are her musings to help you unleash your mind and transform your life to see a little differently.
Belle’s world explores the extremes and goes beyond the surface. Ready to read about some of the “elephants in the room?”
Contact urvi, if you want to build your emotional wealth, business success, cognitive diversity, understand your baseline time mindset and enhance your life based, on your inner core. A confidential and non judgement zone that allows you to begin to flourish in life, love, career, wealth – your personal journey. #thehumanelement #smalltalk #networking #authenticity #connections #vulnerability