Building strong professional relationships is a skill that goes beyond complex numbers and strategy and more into making meaningful connections. 

One of the most effective ways to build rapport with colleagues, clients, and even strangers is through small talk. Although it may seem insignificant, small talk is often the first step toward developing more profound, meaningful professional interactions. 

From corporate boardrooms to virtual meetings, mastering the art of small talk can be a game-changer. Let’s explore how you can use small talk to strengthen your relationships and how tools like CRM can support these efforts.

What is Small Talk?

Small talk is casual, informal conversation about weather, recent events, or shared experiences. While it may seem trivial, small talk is crucial in professional settings. It helps break the ice, establish trust, and set the tone for more serious discussions. Small talk can create a positive first impression in business, making transitioning into more meaningful conversations easier. 

Relationships built on trust are far more likely to lead to successful deals and collaborations in business. For example, research shows that 70% of professionals believe that relationships built through small talk contribute significantly to business success. Engaging in small talk fosters these relationships, allowing people to feel more connected and understood, whether you're face-to-face or communicating online.

In your next meeting, start with a simple question about someone’s weekend or a light comment on a shared topic. It not only helps ease tension but can also lead to a more productive conversation.

How to Make Small Talk: Online vs Offline

Making small talk in person comes more naturally because we can rely on body language and immediate feedback. Offline, you can start with a comment about your surroundings, like "This office has such a great view!" or ask open-ended questions like "How did you get into this line of work?" These conversations flow naturally as you respond to the other person’s tone, body language, and reactions.

Online, small talk requires more deliberate effort. It’s essential to be more precise in your language without physical cues. A thoughtful comment on a colleague’s recent LinkedIn post or a question about a shared interest in a virtual meeting can initiate small talk. However, online small talk often lacks the immediacy and personal touch of offline conversations, so you may need to be more engaging and follow up on conversations to keep them going. The challenge online is to maintain a balance between being personable and staying professional. 

Always ask open-ended questions that invite the other person to share more, whether online or offline. Instead of “How are you?” try “What have you been working on lately?” to keep the conversation flowing.

6 Examples of Small Talk Topics

Choosing the right small talk topic can make all the difference. When done well, it feels effortless and natural. Here are six timely and context-appropriate small talk topics:

1. Current Events: Mentioning recent news events like the global shift to remote work can spark a conversation. For example, a comment about the rise of hybrid work models might prompt a discussion about how it’s affecting various industries.

2. Remote Work Trends: This topic is timely given the massive shift to remote work. You might ask, “How’s the remote work adjustment going for your team? Do you have any tips for staying productive?” This conversation is especially relevant in today’s business world, where many professionals navigate new work environments.

3. Professional Achievements: Congratulate someone on a recent professional milestone. “I saw that your team just landed a major project. That’s fantastic!” is an easy way to build rapport while showing that you’re paying attention.

4. Industry Trends: Discussing new trends in your field can create an engaging conversation. For instance, “Have you heard about the new AI tools transforming CRM systems?” offers both relevance and substance.

5. Shared Interests: Discovering common hobbies, like travel, sports, or books, can make conversations enjoyable. For example, if you notice they’ve recently posted about a book they’ve read, you could ask, “How did you like that novel you posted about on LinkedIn?”

6. Upcoming Events: Plans can also be a good topic. Asking, “Are you planning to attend the upcoming industry conference?” shows your interest and opens up further dialogue about the event.

These examples are efficient when they relate to current and specific professional environments. They show genuine interest, which strengthens the connection you’re trying to build.

Before engaging in small talk, do a little homework. Checking someone’s LinkedIn profile or recent posts can give insight into their interests and make your small talk more meaningful.

Using Data to Start Small Talks

Data plays a crucial role when initiating and sustaining small talk. With customer relationship management (CRM) tools, businesses collect vast amounts of information about customers, including preferences, buying behavior, and past interactions. 

This data collected offers insights that can help you tailor small talk to individual interests, making conversations more personal and engaging. For instance, if you know a customer recently purchased a product, a simple “How are you finding your new software?” can lead to a deeper conversation about their experience.

CRM data also helps keep the conversation relevant. For example, data might show a customer’s interest in sustainability. In that case, a conversation starter could be, “I remember you mentioned sustainability in our last meeting. Have you seen the new regulations coming out next year?” This shows that you’re paying attention and that you value their priorities. In return, the customer feels understood and appreciated, strengthening your relationship.

A CRM system like Saphyte collects customer data that provides insights into preferences, behavior, and past interactions, which you can use to craft personalized conversations. For instance, if your CRM reveals that a client is a frequent traveler, you might ask, “I saw you’ve been traveling a lot lately—how are you finding business travel these days?” This shows you’re paying attention and opens the door to deeper conversations about their experiences.

CRM also allows you to track and revisit past conversations. Suppose you remember someone mentioning a significant project. You can follow up in that case: "Last time we talked, you mentioned a big project. How’s that coming along?” This shows genuine interest and helps solidify the relationship.

Incorporating small talk into your CRM strategy humanizes your interactions and adds value to your professional relationships. By building rapport through relevant, data-driven small talk, you can maintain strong connections, ultimately improving customer loyalty and business success.