When I’m meeting with someone, I almost always make the first topic discussion an introduction or catching up. I’m genuinely curious about what the person is doing, and what they’re like outside of the meeting.

Small talk, its own form of ice breaker, can help make the rest of the meeting smoother. I’ll jog my memory on what I’ve been up to, and some projects I’m working on that might interest them, or a topic I know we share a mutual interest in. I don’t fixate too much on this; maybe I’ll write down three to five words that remind me of what I want to ask or say. 

Plus, when you talk to interesting people, you’ll probably learn something useful that you didn’t expect to, because they do interesting stuff. This creates space for that. We might talk about what we’ve been reading, or podcasts that have caught our interest, or music we like. It’s energizing to learn about interesting ideas, and also what makes that idea interesting to the person you’re talking to.

Sometimes, it’s very tactical; a coworker once told me that because their hairstylist is very busy, they like to book the next appointment right after their haircut. As simple as it was, I thought it was a great idea, and it has alleviated a lot of frustration for me.

Small talk builds trust and rapport, which can make smoother discussions for the rest of the call and working relationship.