Real-deal small talk is about proving to others that your are knowledgeable of the company and trying to make yourself seem worthy of a promotion. You want to work your way up the corporate ladder and good work alone wont do that. You have to initiate small talk to show you are interesting and to make yourself stand out from the rest of your employees.
From an upper management point of view, small talk with middle management can help to reveal some things that may not be known that could impact performance. For example, if a middle manager has a small child who is sick that could affect their thinking, punctuality etc. From an employee point of view, and when done with some tact, small talk with middle management can show that the employee is not just another cog in the wheel but is a valuable asset to the company. Small talk can show the middle manager the employee may have other things to offer that can lead to various opportunities within the organization.
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 Middle Management
‘R’ = Richard N. Stephenson (me!)
‘I’ = Interviewee (anonymous by request unless otherwise noted)
R: What do you think is the most important thing about this topic?
I: Increase the likelihood that management with remember your face and put a human quality to the job description you have. Understand office politics that might help you navigate the ladder to better paying positions. Increase the awareness of your name that might help in future decisions to fill higher paying positions.
R: What is the biggest, life-changing thing that could come from this topic?
I: If someone engages in small talk with middle management thinking it is confidential they may be inclined to say something that they regret. Giving an negative opinions about someone or something that affects the company might influence whether or not management would consider you for promotions or raises. Or saying things that may make you appear to be not as intelligent or smart as others could also have the same effect.
R: Improving those around us is a key concept in life-optimization – how does this topic fit in?
I: Improving your small talk with middle management has huge potential. Learning how to communicate at work can improve your work life, your quality of work, your relationships at work and, by the end of the day, your satisfaction with your job. If you are able to build a relationship with middle management where you are comfortable having small talk with them, I have no doubt you will be thought of more often than your sullen and silent co worker when it comes time for promotions or bonuses at the end of the year. “Small talking” with middle management might just help get you in a position to become middle management. It won’t hurt.
R: Is there anyone you can think of that seems to be a great role-model as far as this topic is concerned.
I: I would imagine a person who is best at small talk with middle management would be someone who has some kind of experience with stress and responsibility, maybe a fellow middle management person. They might have similar leisure activities in their off time because of the shared experience with responsibility. For example, maybe they both like to get away on the weekends and they could swap experiences from the places they have visited.
R: Do you know anyone who could use a little more help on this?
I: Very technical people can be the worst at small talk with middle management. Often times engineers and IT professionals are so focused on the specifics and technical aspects of their jobs, that when communicating with middle management they speak in very technical terms and describe what they are working on in great detail. The middle manager may have asked something simple like “how are you today?” But they may have no idea what the technical employee is describing to them.
R: Think of your daily routine – how does this topic fit into the overall scheme of things?
I: I would make sure to always acknowledge them when I see them. I would make sure I knew their names so I can address them as such, if I don’t know their name I would find out. I would also try and keep myself up to date on what’s happening in the company so I can seem knowledgably to them when I do speak with them.
R: Can you let us know when you think a good time to pay attention to this subject is?
I: The most appropriate time would be while on an elevator or during a scheduled break. Having small talk with middle management during a company outing could also be an appropriate time. Basically, any down period throughout the day would be a good time to make small talk with middle management, even if it is only for a few minutes between phone calls.
R: When do you think folks should absolutely NOT work on this topic?
I: When you’ve been called into the office for some type of somber occasion, where some serious news has been reported to you by middle management, this may not be the best time for small talk. You will want to listen to what is said, acknowledge it by saying yes and shake your head, and then possibly use paraphrasing comments. You want to gauge your reaction to what the middle manager is doing. If they are serious and somber, you will want to reflect this so you are not thought of as frivolous.
R: If you can to name a place where this topic works really well, where would that be?
I: The best place to make small talk with middle management would have a lot to do with when you are actually in touch with middle management. I find that the best time to talk with them is right at the start of the shift or right at the end of the day. During those times is when they usually have a clear head about the matter you are talking about and are not being dragged in 30 different directions that that they can actually focus on what your saying and find a solution.
R: This subject is not fit for use in every situation. Where should folks not use it?
I: The absolute worst place to make small talk with middle management is in the senior manager’s office. You don’t want the top boss feeling left out of a conversation and wishing you would get out of his office. Better to wait until you’re in a more appropriate place.
R: Give me an example of who you think should look into this subject more?
I: It is sometimes difficult for new employees at the entry level to easily communicate with middle management, even in terms of small talk. Since entry level employees often must take direct orders from middle management, it is sometimes difficult for them to communicate on a personal level with their manager. These employees could use additional help in terms of how to better communicate with their managers, and learning how to communicate through small talk is the first step.
R: Got any advice for us on this topic? The readers are hungry!
I: The best way to have small talk with middle management is to be engaged. This means asking questions about whatever is being discussed. Maintain eye contact and respond both verbally and physically. If you need to start the conversation, find out some of middle management’s interests and ask them questions on it. People love to talk about themselves and their interests, so as long as you keep asking questions you’ll do fine.
R: Give the readers an example of the biggest pitfall for this topic.
I: People should avoid jokes that might be offensive to the other person, even if it’s not blatantly unacceptable. For example, avoid even good-natured ribbing, teasing, name-calling unless you know the person well. You could inadvertently joke about a condition or characteristic that they don’t find amusing.
R: What’s the very next step someone should take to learn more about this topic?
I: People could find common hobbies with middle management. Perhaps spending time outside of work with these individuals will give each other an opportunity to see each other in a more human, less “worker bee”-type scenario. Then, they would have shared experiences in which to draw upon for small talk.
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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.