Get Better at Small Talk by Focusing on the Rhythm of Your Idea
How long does it take to get one idea across? If you are not good at small talk, you may not be aware of when one idea ends and another begins. Try to learn the rhythm of your idea for better small talk.
As Reddit user EverySeventeenYears explains, having a bad conversation partner can ruin the bond that small talk is meant to create. If you are worried that you are dominating the conversation or simply not interested, pay attention to how long it takes you to convey one idea or story. Use this to create a mental “rhythm” for your conversation:
I will define the rhythm of your speech as the speed with which your words convey one idea. “Bit” is a single whole. The next time you talk to someone, notice this: How long did it take you to tell Jenny that a bird came to your house on Sunday? A few minutes? This is one thought, one beat.
You may want to continue your conversation with Jenny. You want to tell her how difficult it was to get the bird out of the space above the kitchen cabinets, or what kind of bird it was, or the summer you spent on the chicken farm when you were sixteen. All of this is relevant, but they all add up to a new beat in the song, and this particular conversation. Before adding another bit, you must give Jenny a chance to respond.
Being aware of these rhythms can help when you are on the other side of the conversation. Knowing when the other person’s rhythm is ending can help you understand when to interrupt the conversation or change the subject. As you speak, you can create your stories to match the rhythm of the conversation so that they are short, interesting, and keep the listener’s attention throughout.
LPT: Stop making awkward small talk by focusing on the rhythm of your speech. | Reddit