Tue, May 26, 2009 - 10:46:26

Small Talk Saves Money

If you’re a regular reader of the Small Blog, then you already know that small talk not only increases your job performance, it can save your life.  But, did you know that small talk can also save you time and money?  Well, that’s exactly what happened to Chris Brogan, who wrote about it on his blog.

After hailing a cab at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, Brogan took the time to make conversation with his taxi driver, learning a little about her life, her family, and her culture.  Although he never expected to see the woman again, he saw value in their chat. “It was a great conversation, where we both told each other small stories of our lives. I leave her cab happy, and she seems a bit more peppy after the conversation, too,” Brogan writes.
 
But then, a few minutes later Brogan realized he left his suitcase, containing a very pricey camera, inside the cab.  Feeling defeated, he headed into his meeting, anticipating that he would have to shell out another $1000 to get a new camera in the very near future.

But, an hour later, after his meeting, Brogan discovered something very unexpected—his cab driver and partner in small talk was waiting outside for him, suitcase and camera in tow.  Without a doubt, Brogan knew that in this case, small talk did more than just brighten his day; it saved him some big bucks.

As frequent travelers who are no strangers to the taxi, Brogan’s story really made us think.  How often does the average person take the time to make small talk with their cab driver, when it’s so easy to jump in, yell out your cross streets, and spend your ride scrolling through your blackberry.  Certainly, all of us are busy and a cab ride does provide a few coveted moments of quiet time to be alone with your thoughts. But, as Brogan’s story reveals, making a real albeit small, human connection during that short amount of time may lead to unexpected and beneficial results. If Brogan had neglected to make small talk with his driver, we imagine his story would have ended differently.  But making small talk opened him up to the driver in a new way.  Instead of being simply a customer, Brogan became a person.  Instead of just “a guy”, small talk made him into a man with a story.  It removed his anonymity and therefore made the other person care.

So, why not try a little experiment?  Next time you hop in a cab, buy a newspaper, or order lunch at your favorite deli, take a minute to make a little conversation with those who are helping you out.  It might not save you $1000, but a little human connection just might make your day.

Posted by Linda and Robin