When youre asked a version of this question, simply say, Im happy to share! and then give some details. Wanting to ensure your organisation focuses more on the outcomes people deliver, rather than where they do their work? I teach in a small tech business college with lots of interactional students. How you feel about small talk depends to some extent on where you are from. It should never devolve into gossip especially about the company or other employees which breeds incivility, cynicism, and distrust. Heres what I did.. As organizations consider their optimal post-pandemic remote-work strategy, theyll need practices to integrate small talk into their work ecosystems. Sure! The positive effect of these small regular exchanges builds working trust and good relations. Before Covid-19 and social distancing, small talk was a daily workplace ritual for most of us. I like it. My son has just got braces, but Im the one feeling the pain (humorous reference to the cost of braces). We also saw that conversations didnt have to be intimate or lengthy to deliver benefits. Thanks for sharing your experience. I grew up in the UK and started working as a management consultant in Sydney 12 years ago. When you trust people and feel they trust you in return, you can speak up, argue and disagree productively for the benefit of your shared goals. My son is doing Year 12 this year and you wouldnt believe how much homework he gets.. The first thing I'd say is that the cultural differences were clearly less apparent to me than they were to my colleagues from the US head office. PostedJanuary 18, 2020 A superficial or light-hearted question can be taken at face value. What are you currently watching on Netflix? It can even help you get access to more job opportunities because your coworkers will have a chance to get to know you. Am I required to make small talk? Small talk is relatively light, brief and surface level. I'm Malaysian and used to work in Malaysia. In some ways it puts you off, as it's just hassle. Yet not everyone is a fan; some think small talk is inauthentic and a waste of time. You never know if a more senior colleague is listening to what youre saying.