I hate small talk.

I hate small talk.

And so too, do most people.

But why do we avoid meaningful topics so often?

The risk? The awkwardness? The opener?

It turns out most people would much rather have a deeper conversation than talk about the weather or the game.

We “systematically underestimate how caring and interested distant strangers are.” and as a result of those “miscalibrated expectations” we resort to meaningless and uninspiring banter.

This short article in the Washington Post (https://lnkd.in/etuRc-DD) based on the good scientific work done here (https://lnkd.in/eFHkv5rj) is worth engaging with.

“Too much information” can be a real thing. Instead, our research suggests that the person next to you would probably be happier talking about their passions and purpose than the weather and “what’s up.”

At a recent event, Ross Simmonds asked me what book I gift the most often to others and why? It’s what Tim Ferriss asks his guests and it was a quick way for us to move beyond small talk.

What’s another great question to get to big talk?

#work #people #research