Is there a difference between small talk and trivial talk like the weather?
Dr. Brown: Even in small talk, part of the conversation can be meaningful. If you really don’t have anything to say to that person at first, you can use small talk to connect to them on a human level. As the discussion becomes more meaningful, it becomes the essence of why you are there. Small talk can help you begin with: • A reason why you want to talk to this person • An idea of what you want to exchange; • Something positive if nothing more than exchanging ideas. Small talk is investing time in conversation with one another. You make it memorable by just investing your time. For example, when you met me what did you say? WYC: “Hi, I’m Dr. Wendy Carter and I really enjoyed your talk. I see that you have a lot to offer graduate students. I write a monthly newsletter for graduate students, and I would like to interview you for my upcoming issue.” Dr. Brown: See; you did everything that you were supposed to do. You introduced yourself and you had a purpose for the encounter. We cemente
