Small Talk: Enlightening Interruptions

There have been many excellent books written about the importance of small talk - and to be honest, most are pretty good. This book has been written firstly as a light conversation about the topic of small talk. Small talk might be seen as an art - rather than an exact science - and because of this, it remains something imprecise, fleeting and yet something that we all need to practice and master in our professional and private lives. Although this particular book, having the unusual subtitle of 'Enlightening Interruptions', is somewhat different in its approach, as it examines how a simple small talk conversation might just be an enjoyable experience; however, it might also lead us to something 'more significant' - perhaps being the catalyst for something dynamic or even radical - possibly a change of life's direction (or metanoia). For example, have you ever looked back at some past event in your life and realised that, just by meeting that specific person, perhaps by chance, at a particular time, suddenly the whole course and direction of your life changed? It is these moments - that spice of life - which this book wishes to explain and even encourage. You might be wondering why there is a photo of a colour-changing lizard on the front cover of this book? The word chameleon originates from two Greek words (khamai) ?aµa? "on the ground" and (léon) ???? "lion." This is because when we small talk we first need 'the courage of a lion', but then at the same time we also need to be more 'grounded'. Just as the chameleon is also highly observant, we as master small-talkers need to be attentive and even perhaps a little 'more' curious of our surroundings, but also about the people with whom we are meeting and conversing. This book strives to answer many of the significant questions regarding the usage and advantages that might be posed when using small talk in the modern world today.Here are just a few mentioned: *What are some of the benefits of 'fitting in' and better adapting to those social and work engagements such as the Christmas party, external seminars, meeting visitors, etc? *Why is the English language (the melody and tone) apparently "kinder" to the ear and tongue when we are casually speaking with others? *How is being courageous and sharing our uniqueness with others is almost always a win-win situation? *How small talking with others shows respect, heightens curiosity and increases empathy? *Why the quotes "hell is other people" and "no man is an island" are mostly unhelpful? *How does "I am curious ... tell me more?" brings us further? This book explains and illustrates, using a real online teaching conversation and setting, some of the practical methods and reasons for using small talk as a tool. By using small talk in this way, we can rate it as an invaluable skill and also consider it as being preparational in nature. I want to argue that by using small talk, to strike up new conversations with someone, might just be the match to ignite these life-changing moments.

• | Author: Coach Birks
• | Publisher: Independently Published
• | Publication Date: May 12, 2019
• | Number of Pages: 126 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1097920658
• | ISBN-13: 9781097920655