I think that small talk with shop technicians or manual laborer means to ask about their kids, their hobbies, their lives. Anything that helps you find a connection and appreciate this person as a person and not just the guy fixing your car. It doesn’t have to use up a lot of time… just needs to be nice.
Small talk with technicians can be very important for collecting information about a project. Those who are directly involved with the products and services in the field are the people most likely to know the flaws that cause product inefficiency. These people interact with the customers daily and know the customer feedback on a product more so than anyone else. These individuals can give developers the best input for improvement.
This is a topic that is near and dear to the hearts of my readers, researchers, and website visitors. So much so that one of them were kind enough to share their own personal opinions. I don’t claim to be the best interviewer in the world, but I do promise some good, raw, and honest answers from normal people like you and me. I do my best to NOT filter these answers, except for the bad words and hateful speech.
With that little blurb out of the way, let’s dive right into the juicy bits of (potentially) life-changing insights.
Current Topic: Small Talk With Shop Technicians / Manual Laborer Workforce
‘R’ = Richard N. Stephenson (me!) ‘I’ = Interviewee (anonymous by request unless otherwise noted)
[This interview is inspired and fueled by research done for my book: Just Say Something! Use Small Talk To Succeed At Work, Empower Introverts, & Handle Annoying Coworkers.]
R: What’s so special about this topic anyway?
I: I am a manager of a workforce of 60 and I find small talk very effective in managing my department. First, talking to my labor force lets me get to know the individuals on a personal level. I believe that once you bond with the individual you get a more productive worker. It also gives me insight for the individuals quality of work and knowledge.
You can ask questions and find out how well the individuals know their job. Sometimes you find expertise or you find the need for additional training. Also being involved and talking to your labor force helps ensure a safe workplace. It’s good to preach safety and they more they hear it the more they adopt it.
R: How do you think this could change someone’s life?
I: If a technician is having a bad day, you can ask them one question and they could open up and share everything. They could open up and tell you how they are struggling or having a rough day. You could tell the you’ll pray for them. You can just listen to them and that would mean the world to them.
R: I think everyone wants to be a better person – can you tell us how this topic relates?
I: Ask certain questions related to their hobby that might open up areas of more information related to a specific field. Finding out the ways manual labors work so that a person can come to appreciate their work more. Learning additional social skills with people that you might not otherwise talk with in your social circles.
R: Can you think of anyone that exemplifies what this topic means to you?
I: This person is able to talk on a level that makes the technician or worker feel they are being respected and not talked down to. They ask questions that are relevant to the person’s job or tasks. Information seeking questions using a respectful tone of voice makes the worker feel their knowledge base is being recognized and respected. They use polite language and thank the person for a job.
R: If you had to pick who’s the worst at this subject, who would it be?
I: Only someone who thinks there something “small” about small talk. There’s nothing small about small talk. Though you may think that making small talk is just a way to pass the time or avoid awkwardness, many great friendships and relationships have started with a discussion about the weather.
Small talk can not only help you build a meaningful bond with a person, but it’s also a vital skill that will benefit you in the professional world. If you want to make a person feel comfortable, the best thing to do is to have an “open stance” and to direct your body toward that person without being too forceful. Just make eye contact, don’t cross your arms, and face your shoulders toward that person.
R: How do you bring this topic into your life?
I: I ask them how their day is going. I usually talk about the weather or something else interesting. I tell them about other experiences I’ve had with work places like theirs.
R: When is a good time to bring this topic into your life?
I: The best time would be when they are on their break or lunch. This way they are not stressed out by a deadline or a job at hand and will be much more open to talking to you about details other than work. They will be more comfortable and open to what you ask during this time of relaxation.
R: Can you think of a time when it’s probably a bad idea to look into this subject more?
I: An example is when you are supposed to be productive. Every worker needs some down time and time to chat with coworkers. But if you chat too much, you will not be productive. Additionally, if your boss is evaluating you, you might receive a bad evaluation. Also, the shop owner might be showing the business to a customer, and your small talk would reflect poorly on your company.
R: In a few short sentences, tell us where people could get some good use out of this topic.
I: When I have a repairman visit my home to repair something, I try to talk to him the entire time he is there. I like to pick his brain about the repair, my options, what is he doing, how can I prevent this repair in the future, and how can I do the repair myself. This can save me money in the long run.
At work, I think it is very important to talk to my manual laborer workforce. First, it allows me to be in touch with them and the “pulse” of what they are doing. Second, if they see me around the shop frequently, it will build somewhat of a trust relationship where they may provide me with open, honest feedback.
Third, I can get some good ideas for improving shop processes. Fourth, it will show them that I am not in an ivory tower but a human being that cares about them.
R: What place is this subject just totally inappropriate for?
I: The worst time would probably be in a construction site, you would probably get ran over by a crane or bulldozer or smacked in face with debris or tools. Another horrid spot would be a welding or mechanic shop where you might get sprayed by welding smelt off spray or cause some serious accident.
A really bad place also would be a farmer picking crops, as all the talking would tire you out more then the job itself. Another really bad place would be doing an electric line, if you mess up you shock yourself and die.
R: Give me an example of who you think should look into this subject more?
I: Any relief effort, like the Red Cross. They help out with a lot of natural disasters and might need help from shop technicians or manual laborers. Some people who volunteer don’t have the stamina or knowledge to help. Small talk with these people could help in relief efforts.
R: Give me an example of something we can do to discover more about this subject.
I: I find that the best way to properly address your shop techs or lower level work force would be to have a meeting with them at a set them. This enables them to know when they will be able to get their ideas across.
It also is a good time to bring any business to them that you may have, as far as, if you want them to say some things to a customer that they normally don’t. As having an open door policy would be the best possible way to let your employees know that you care.
R: What would you say is something we should avoid at all costs when it comes to this topic?
I: It would be a good idea not to insult or harass the person. The reason is because the person may take it the wrong way and label you as a disrespectful man/woman. I suggest you listen thoroughly to what is being talked about and try not to be too opinionated because that person may not listen to what you say in the future.
I also suggest to keep eye contact and make it seem like you’re interested even if you don’t like what’s being said in the conversation. Smiling may be a good idea also.
R: Give us an example of something we can do today to get more up to speed on this topic.
I: In order to do this a person can compliment the worker. It could also be useful to ask if they are a student and how their schooling is going. Being one myself, I know most college students love to be able to meet new people and show off what they are learning about while at work, we are proud to be students.
Another way is to start jokes about things such as the weather or common media knowledge. Getting to know manual laborers at a more personal level can make a huge impact on how one lives their own life.
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Thank you for reading this personal journey into becoming a better person and having a better future ahead of you. I hope you enjoyed this interview conversation and found golden nuggets you can immediately apply to your daily life.
If you’re interested in discovering how to use small talk to succeed at work, transform your introversion into a useful skill, and handle those annoying coworkers, then check out Just Say Something!.
Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, or personal life-changing wisdom below.