Being able to “chat” with someone in on or both of those fields. I think these kind of people are the people you really want on your side. I believe you can achieve this through small talk.
It makes the person requesting the service feel more comfortable with the shop technicians/manual laborer workforce. So you see them as human beings, not just mindless means to completing a task. It also allows the technicians or laborers to feel appreciated, like their opinions, however small, matter.
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)
R: What’s so special about this topic anyway?
I: These people are among the most knowledgeable and useful in our society, so befriending them is wise! They are hands-on, informed, and valuable people to know. Small talk shows that you are interested in them (as long as you do so in a respectful way). You can use small talk to gather information that is important to you. For instance, I was riding the bus and was in the market for a new car. I noticed a mechanic rode the same bus as me everyday so I started making small talk with him. He gave me advice on what kind of car was the most dependable-and he was right!
R: Assume the change from this subject is super-important, how could it help someone change their life?
I: Talking with somebody in those fields could change their life. Maybe they are qualified for a job you are looking to fill. Maybe you could invite them to your church which could spiritually change their life.
R: Please tell me about your own experience with this topic and how it helped someone be better.
I: You will always be a better person if you stop and shoot the breeze with the person who is doing labor for you. It makes you more caring and more empathetic. I’m sure that the shop technician appreciates it too.
R: In general, what type or person (or someone specifically!) typifies this subject to you?
I: Men because they know more about what the technician is talking about. They wont look confused or will just go with what the person is saying.
R: Tell me who in your personal experience is not up-to-speed on this subject at all.
I: A person who is worst at small talk is an incompetent shop technician. This person is not skilled nor is the person familiar with the jargon or language a shop technician uses. Another example is a person who doesn’t know the job at all. A shop technician/manual laborer workforce is simply not the person’s field of expertise.
R: Describe the “perfect day” as far as making this subject a part of your life.
I: If they are servicing something of mine, I would simply talk about it.
R: When is a good time to bring this topic into your life?
I: When they are working on something of yours. Ask questions about their profession and if they have any tips that you can integrate into your life. If they are snaking your bathtub ask them what you can do in the future to prevent this from happening again!
R: Can you think of a time when it’s probably a bad idea to look into this subject more?
I: When they are busy working. You do not want to distract them as they are working on a tedious task. You also do not want to bother them when they may be doing something that may cause injury.
R: Can you tell me where folks out there should plan to bring this idea into their lives?
I: While getting a car repaired. If you make small talk with them and they like you, you may have just scored yourself a discount. If not a discount, then they will at least do a good job.
R: There’s a time and a place for everything – what’s a place to NOT dive further into this topic?
I: The bathroom is the worst place to make small talk with shop technicians. No one wants to have daily conversations in such an uncomfortable situation. Also, it would be poor judgment to try to make small talk as they are deep into working on a job. It often takes concentration, which shouldn’t be interrupted.
R: Give me an example of who you think should look into this subject more?
I: Groups such as technician schools could help with small talk. These schools could teach social techniques on dealing with clients. Employers could help train them on small talk as well.
R: Give us at least one major tip we can do something with for this topic?
I: I am assuming that you have gone to this person for assistance. In that case, the best thing you can do is attempt to connect on a human level. Be friendly, open and welcoming. Be genuinely interested, and listen carefully to what the person has to say. Help them to understand that you have come to them for advice/information and that the answer is very important to you.
R: Please, let us know what you think is the biggest problem related to this topic?
I: I would not ask anything that could be seen as offensive or demeaning to a shop technician. Examples would be asking if their hands ever get clean. I would also not talk about how much money I have and how little knowledge I have about what they are repairing. I would assume just because they had an area of specialty in the manual labor workforce that they have answers to all of my questions in other areas of the manual labor workforce.
R: This topic is broad and the readers will need some focus. Can you help guide them along with an example of what to do next?
I: A person can ask their technicians a little about their personal life. An example would be about children, or where they grew up or what they like to do. The next time you see them, ask them about what you learned. Show interest in them as a person.
~~~~~
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.