Fri, March 05, 2010 - 10:10:05

Operation NiCE Highlights the Power of Small Talk

One of the things we love most about social media is its uncanny ability to connect us with other NICE- and SMALL-minded folks simply by pressing a button and this week we’ve come across quite a number of amazing bloggers with kindness and simplicity at the core of what they do.  But, it was a post from one of our old favorites, Melissa Morris Ivone of Operation NiCE, which really got our attention.  In her post, “The Power of Small Talk” she tells the story of one of her readers, Julie B., who discovered for the first time that a little seemingly insignificant chit-chat can make a positive difference in the lives of others.  In other words, there’s nothing small about small talk.

Julie B. writes to Operation NiCE:

When I was super pregnant last summer before my son was born, I remember walking through the hall at work one day. There was a guy up ahead of me, and as he went through the door he held it open for me. I said thanks, but as I didn’t know the guy, I was pretty much going to ignore him and keep on walking. But he made a comment to me that has stuck with me, and just completely made my day.

“So when are you due?”

“June 26th”

“Ah, a Cancer. That’s so great. They stay really close to their families. That’s so great for you!”

My first thought was, “this guy knows astrology!” But my second was, “what a totally awesome thing to say!” I mean really, what mother doesn’t want to hear that her child will always want to be close to their family? It really made me happy and I thought about it often.

Although the kind man who held the door for Julie B. probably never imagined his off-hand remark would have such a powerful effect, in the end it became a comforting thought for a mom-to-be.
It’s just one more example of the amazing ways in which small talk works every day.

In our wired world, we often discount the notion of small talk as frivolous or simply a waste of time, but in truth, small talk is the social lubricant that brings people together, regardless of their differences, and gets the big things started.  So, if you’re blazing through life with those lips zipped, why not take a few minutes each day to stop and shoot the breeze? 

Even if you’re shy, it doesn’t take much to get the conversation going.  In fact, it can be as simple as giving someone else a compliment.  After all, who would be averse to hearing that someone else likes their taste in shoes or thinks they have on a fabulous pair of earrings?  Although your small words of praise might feel inconsequential, you never know what that little confidence-boost could do for someone else.

So what are you waiting for?  Get SMALL and get talking!  With just a few little words, you really can make a big difference.

Posted by Linda and Robin