Tip: A new way to open a conversation with a stranger.
Posted
by
Hailey Heimbach
on Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Tip: A new way to open a conversation with a stranger.
We opened up a New York Times article— “You’re Probably Doing Small Talk Wrong.”
Wow, yet another article on mastering small talk!
But we read on, and sort of liked what authors, Dr. Maya Rossignac-Milon and Dr. Erica Boothby, said about small talk. They suggest straying from the script and “riffing” off each other. The dictionary describes riffing as a “spoken improvisation on a particular subject.”
It sounds a bit like ‘open mic night’ but sometimes it could be worth a try. The authors talk about how a bit of clever banter was the start of a lifelong friendship. One person said something audacious and the other person started working with it.
Here is their example:
● “How was your weekend?” “Good, but I spent way too much time watching people make tiny food on TikTok.”
● “Whoa, like … dollhouse-size?”
● “Yes! If you want to learn to make a lasagna in a bottle cap, let me know.”
● “That’s hilarious! We could organize a tiny food potluck — and fit the entire spread on this coaster!”
And it went from there…
The authors say you don’t have to be naturally funny but just be willing to embrace the spontaneity. The other reason the whole riffing dialogue worked was the first speaker didn’t say something like “I spent the weekend binging on TikTok”. They got specific, and elaborated with a funny idea.
Then the other person picked up on it with their “dollhouse-size” comment.
Social scientists call this “a shared reality” which is a key driver in relationship initiation.
Are we going to try it? Heck yes! But…it will be a matter of ‘reading the room’, and assessing whether the person we want to engage in conversation will play along.
If it works out, is it Comedy Central next for us?
SHEPA LEARNING COMPANY WEEKLY POSITIVE NETWORKING® TIP
No. 1134, October 1, 2025
By Gayle Hallgren and Judy Thomson
Categories:
General
Tagged: General, Information, Chamber, Tips and Tricks