Crystal's Notes 10 Aug

Say Hello!

Last week’s AMA on my IG saw so many questions about making small talk with senior stakeholders.

People stress out too much on actual words or content. The fact is, most Singaporeans won’t even say anything but smile sheepishly, so if you even make eye contact and smile, and say HELLO confidently, it is already a win!

Secrets to Small Talk

1. Start with something contextual and super simple, like how their day is going, to read if the other party wants to engage or not. If they are too busy and give monosyllabic answers, be respectful and stop chatting!

2. Find out about their interests and what they are up to. For example, if you notice their luggage, say, “Welcome back to Singapore! Did you have a good trip?” If they enjoy tennis, ask what they thought of the Wimbledon finals.

3. If you follow them on social media, ask them about their latest article on LinkedIn, or comment on a reel they had posted.

4. If you want to be good at small talk with senior stakeholders, start with lower stakes everyday situations. Chat with the next person who comes into the elevator, or the person next to you in the queue. It’s good training!

Exercising your social muscles helps because your behaviour reinforces your belief in your identity that you are someone who says hi, or that you are a warm and confident person. And that is how habit formation alters identity.

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Listen To This

Check out my podcast episode where I explore the secrets to making sparkling conversations.

Read This

Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade by Robert Cialdini Ph.D.

Breathe!

Do a breathing exercise to ground yourself if you feel nervous about making conversation. If you’re feeling butterflies, tell yourself, “I am excited! It is my body activating itself, and I’ve got this!”

You’ve got this!

Much love,

Crystal