2024-05-02T11:16:38-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150165819/networking-tip-small-talk Sean Joyner 2019-10-21T14:15:00-04:00 >2019-10-22T13:39:06-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/af/afcfefad4040914a2f30b1b489e2b15c.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Small talk is a dreaded practice for many professionals. It's often forced, and the parties involved participate out of obligation as opposed to genuine interest. Naturally, there are those of us who don't mind it, we actually enjoy it. Instead of hysterically pressing the close door button in the elevator, we hold the door, and seemlessly start a little&nbsp;<em>small talk</em>.&nbsp;</p> <p>But, there are those of us who,&nbsp;on our way to get coffee, turn around and go back to our desks if we see someone else in the break room. I can wait, we think, I want to get my coffee in peace. We put on our headphones to signal we are&nbsp;<em>busy</em> and avoid eye contact with our talkative peers.&nbsp;</p> <p>It's easier to pull this off during the work day, even at lunch, we can continue our avoidance, but in social settings we aren't so fortunate.&nbsp; What about Beer Fridays? Holiday parties? Networking events? Even meetings? Will our anti-social tendencies serve us well in these settings? It's not always the best idea to alienate ourselves f...</p>