How to Make Small Talk at Corporate Parties

Holiday party season is upon us! Once the ides of November hit, so to the holiday festivities, and you may  find your calendar packed full of events that require schmoozing and small talk. Whether you love or dread these events, they’re important to go to – especially if you see them as an opportunity to polish some professional relationships, do some networking, and make a good impression.

In today’s Communication Q&A, we’ve got a question on this subject from Maya:

Hi Lauren – I’m really enjoying your channel and appreciate all the speaking advice you’re dishing out.

I’m hoping you can help me with a business-social event. I’m going to a corporate Christmas party. I work in a large firm, and this will be the first Christmas party I’ve attended there. I want to use this opportunity to get to know more people in this firm. But I also want to make a good impression, especially to the managers.

How can I make small talk that puts me in a good light without being boring, predictable, or overly stuffy?

Thanks so much, Maya

Watch the video below for my answer to Maya’s question, and pick up some small talk strategies for all your chit-chat needs (whether it’s at your company Christmas party, family gathering, or other merry-making event).

Video being cranky? Click here to watch it on YouTube. You can also scroll down for the full transcript.

What’s your take on corporate small talk? Any good pointers you can contribute? Be sure to add them in the comments down below.

And if you enjoyed this video, be sure to share this post with your friends and colleagues – they might also need a small talk booster!

 

 

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Today’s question is from Maya, and Maya writes

 

Hi Lauren – I’m really enjoying your channel and appreciate all the speaking advice you’re dishing out (thanks, Maya!). 

 

I’m hoping you can help me with a business-social event. I’m going to a corporate Christmas party. I work in a large firm, and this will be the first Christmas party I’ve attended there. I want to use this opportunity to get to know more people in this firm. But I also want to make a good impression, especially to the managers.

 

How can I make small talk that puts me in a good light without being boring, predictable, or overly stuffy?

Thanks so much, Maya

 

Great question, Maya! Corporate parties are a good time to get to know your co-workers a little more personally and network with managers in a less informal way…provided you don’t get too comfortable and go overboard at the open bar.

Small talk will be necessary, but it’s good to avoid subjects like the weather. To make the most of this opportunity, I recommend doing some advanced homework.  Your aim is to take in a range of topics and become familiar enough with them that you’ve got some basic facts and can ask other people good questions about those topics.

Look up current affairs and news that might be affecting your industry, as well as things that are likely to affect people personally, like local news, or common interest subjects like home renovations or travel.

If there are specific people that you really want to get to know, put some extra effort in learning more about them before the party. Is there an activity or sport they’re especially interested in? A charity they’re involved with? An interesting project they are currently working on?

You can find this information by asking your co-workers or even doing a bit of light social media stalking (I mean…research…). Once you’ve found out a little about your target’s interests, learn a little more about those interests so that you can ask them some good questions about it and get them talking.

Then, when you go to make conversation, focus on asking people questions about their opinions or experiences as related to the topics you’ve been looking up. You want to pepper your conversation with lots of questions.

The beauty of focusing on asking questions in small talk is that it works on two levels.

First, People love talking about their opinions, and by giving them the chance to do so, you’ll not only learn a lot about your co-workers, you’ll make them feel good and important by listening attentively and being curious and interested in what they have to say.

Second, by focusing on learning about the other person’s thoughts and asking lots of questions, you can even get through potentially touchy topics like politics, parenting, or Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest crackpot health advice without antagonizing or offending anyway.

Best of luck at the party Maya, and be sure that you make sure to have a bit of fun in between all  the networking.

It’s your turn! I’d love to learn what your favorite small talk topics are. Sports? Home renovations? Making your own shampoo? Pop your answer in the comments down below.

Did you find this video helpful? If so, click the like button, subscribe to the channel, and share this episode with your friends! And be sure to head over to laurensergy.com and sign up for my newsletter – it’s got lots of goodies that I only share with my subscribers.

Thanks for joining me here today, and I can’t wait to see you again here on Talk Shop Q&A.