These "reductive" questions can instantly make a conversation feel heavy, etiquette expert Alison Cheperdak says.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Office small talk can feel like running a marathon in shoes two sizes too small. While it’s often necessary, some topics can make ...

If you find it awkward to make small talk, you are not alone. While it can be daunting, it is also one of the best ways to ...

"Skip the Small Talk" events offer speed-friending to the shy and the bold. A room filled with people talking and sharing their thoughts can be either an extrovert's dream or an introvert's nightmare.

An estimated 1 crore Indians go to work everyday and 99 lakh of them avoid making small-talk with their co-workers once they get there. Some of us will put on headphones to avoid talking to our ...

Why do we humans make small talk? We spend a lot of time worrying about how to chit-chat amusingly or captivatingly. We complain when it seems trivial or a waste of time, and we bemoan the stress of a ...

Nick Enfield does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...

We’ve all been there. Whether it’s checking out at a store or trying to lull the awkwardness when meeting someone new, small talk has been used by all of us. For some people, having these little ...

I know I’m not alone in disliking small talk. Yes, I have a history of social anxiety. I mean, I once hid behind Tim Gunn’s grandfather clock to avoid small talk at a fundraiser at his apartment.

Want to stay current with Arthur’s writing? Sign up to get an email every time a new column comes out. As a rule, I avoid social and professional dinners. Not because I’m anti-social or don’t like ...