6 ways to talk in the elevator – small talk

You know that awkward moment when you get on an elevator with strangers and a grave silence falls? You look at the ground or at your phone screen. Each of you is afraid to speak up. And yet, this is the perfect time to meet someone interesting and even practice English vocabulary if you run into a foreigner. Small talk is a very useful skill. Therefore, learn 6 ways to have an elevator conversation.

It’s time for the first of 6 ways to have an elevator conversation. There are 45 seconds left until the door closes. Dead silence reigns in the elevator. Polite smiles won’t change anything: everyone is embarrassed. What can you do in this situation? Unload the atmosphere. Even if you are afraid of ridicule. Others will certainly appreciate your courage. If you fill the awkward silence, others will breathe a sigh of relief. Score one for you. 

What exactly to say? Should you engage everyone present in the elevator to talk to your colleague about the last college? You hesitate to tell a recent success, a newly acquired customer, because you don’t want to be perceived as an arrogant person. The best solution is to start  small talk – ba! it’s even a necessity. Ask yourself: “What is the common denominator of the people in the elevator?” It could be a strike by public transportation drivers, rain outside the window, or a work party to which you are all invited. You have to remember that this is not a platform for debate, but an appetizer to start a dialogue. 

Do you recall that situation where no one laughed after your joke? Your discomfort has dangerously skyrocketed. You ask your co-worker: “Shall we have lunch together?” and she replies “No, I can’t make it.” Others are looking at their feet. The atmosphere is heavy. In such situations, it’s a good idea to liven up the conversation, such as asking a colleague how he spent the weekend. Ask someone you don’t know what he or she does at the company. Show interest and find out some interesting things about people you’ve only had email contact with so far. Also have questions like “How did you spend  vacations?” or “I know you work in the marketing department. Are you in charge now?” Rather, ask small things so as not to confuse anyone. This will make your interlocutor more likely to bounce the ball and send the question back… to you.

Here’s another of the 6 ways to have an elevator conversation. The game has been started – your interlocutor has taken up the conversation, is eager to answer your questions and just as eager to ask them, “And how’s your job?” Hmm, actually you’re planning to get laid off and quit everything and go to the Mazurians. But you’d rather the three unknown people in the elevator didn’t know that. In such a situation, you should hide your honest answer, after all, you don’t want to become a chatterbox that others gossip about. Don’t leave a negative impression, sober response: “We’ll talk about it later.” 

You are just after lunch and wondering if the spinach from the frittata has found a place in your mouth. At this point, your boss, whom you see once every three months, enters the elevator. You smile, trying not to open your mouth. But the time has just come to throw yourself into the deep end, whether you have spinach between your teeth or not. It is very important to introduce yourself to your boss. Tell him who you are, what you are working on and with whom. It is better to engage in a conversation than to stand by with your head bowed. At the next meeting you will be able to easily ask him, how his day is going, or shake his hand. Unlike most employees do not treat him like a figure saint – he will certainly appreciate it. 

Barely had Anna started talking about her sunny vacation in Italy, and already the elevator has to be lowered. This is the main advantage of the elevator conversation – it doesn’t take more than a minute. But it can also be like a teaser if you desire to learn more. Signal to your interlocutor that you will finish your chat later, such as over coffee or lunch. Small talk can be a promise of another meeting. The easiest way is to ask: “Why don’t we go for dinner next week, are you free?”. Or maybe an innocent coincidence will lead you to the same place? This is the last of the 6 ways to have an elevator conversation. Do you dare to take advantage?