Small talk and everyday conversations

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence

Openers, follow-up questions and polite ways to leave, for the conversations that feel awkward: networking events, new jobs, parties and more.

How to Start a Conversation With Anyone: Opening LinesHow to start a conversation with anyone: three kinds of opener that work in any setting, example lines for work, parties, events and everyday places.
How to Keep a Conversation Going Without Awkward SilencesKeep a conversation going once it has started: follow-up questions, sharing something back, and threading on what they said, with example replies.
Good Small Talk Topics: What to Talk About (and Avoid)Good small talk topics for work, parties, events and everyday places, the subjects to avoid with people you don't know, and how to move past the weather.
How to End a Conversation Politely (Without Being Rude)How to end a conversation politely: a four-part exit, example lines for parties, work, phone calls and people who keep talking, and what not to say.
How to Talk to Strangers Without Feeling Weird or AwkwardHow to talk to strangers in a queue, cafe or park: low-stakes openers, how to tell if someone wants to chat, and a one-week plan to get comfortable.
How to Introduce Yourself to Someone New in ConversationHow to introduce yourself casually to one person: your name, the context that connects you, and a hook that gives them something to ask. Examples by setting.
What to Say When a Conversation Goes Quiet: Awkward SilenceWhat to say when a conversation dies and there's an awkward silence: restart lines, callbacks to earlier topics, and when it's better to let the silence be.
What to Talk About on a First Date: Questions and TipsWhat to talk about on a first date: questions that go past job and hometown, how to avoid interview mode, topics to save for later, and signs it's going well.
How to Network at an Event When You Hate NetworkingWhat to say at a networking event if you hate networking: who to approach first, how to join groups, how to talk about your work, and how to swap contacts.
What to Do at a Party Where You Don't Know Anyone: First LinesHow to handle a party where you know only the host or nobody: when to arrive, where to stand, who to approach, and the exact first lines to say.
What to Say on Your First Day at a New Job: IntroductionsWhat to say on your first day at a new job: a 10-second introduction, lines for your team, your manager and lunch, questions to ask, and how to remember names.
What to Say at the Office Coffee Machine or KitchenWhat to say in a two-minute office kitchen or coffee machine encounter: quick openers by coworker, what to talk about while you wait, and easy exits.
How to Make Small Talk With Your Boss Without It Being AwkwardHow to chat casually with your manager before meetings, at lunch and in passing: topics that feel natural, lines to use, and how to avoid sounding like you're sucking up.
What to Say in an Elevator: Small Talk for 30 SecondsWhat to say in an elevator with a colleague, your boss or a stranger: 30-second openers, how to end when the doors open, and when silence is perfectly fine.
How to Make Small Talk at a Conference Between SessionsWhat to say at a conference: openers for coffee breaks, lunch tables and after talks, how to approach a speaker, and how to follow up after the event.
How to Make Conversation at a Dinner Party (Guest Tips)How to hold your own at a dinner party table: talking to people on both sides, questions for the whole table, including quiet guests and avoiding political fights.
What to Say at the Start of a Zoom Call Before It BeginsWhat to say in the first minutes of a Zoom or Teams call while people join: openers for one-to-ones, team calls and client calls, and how to move to the agenda.
What to Talk About When Meeting Your Partner's ParentsWhat to say when meeting your boyfriend's or girlfriend's parents for the first time: what to ask your partner first, questions for them, and topics to avoid.
How to Make Small Talk With Other Parents at School PickupWhat to say to other parents at the school gate or pickup line: openers about kids and class events, joining groups, and how to go from nodding to friends.
How to Start a Conversation at the Gym Without Being AnnoyingIs it okay to talk to people at the gym? When to approach, how to read headphones, what to say about equipment, and how to get to know the regulars.
How Much Small Talk Before a Sales or Client Call? What to SayHow long to chat before a client or sales call gets down to business, openers that build rapport, and the exact lines to move to the agenda without sounding abrupt.
How to Answer 'How Was Your Weekend?' and Keep It GoingHow to answer 'How was your weekend?' at work on Monday: replies with a hook, answers for quiet weekends, and how to ask it back so the chat goes somewhere.
How to Answer 'What Do You Do?' Without Being BoringHow to answer 'So, what do you do?' at a party: a three-part reply, with examples for office jobs, students, parents, the unemployed and the self-employed.
How to Be a Good Host: Introducing Guests and Starting ChatsWhat to say as a host to get guests talking: introductions with a hook, rescuing guests stuck alone, and moving between groups without neglecting anyone.
How to Change the Subject Smoothly in a ConversationHow to steer away from an awkward, boring or heated topic without being rude: bridging lines for family, work and social settings, and if they bring it back.
How to Have a Conversation at a Language Exchange MeetupWhat to talk about at a language exchange: beginner-friendly topics by level, rescue phrases when you're stuck, switching languages fairly, and corrections.
How to Join a Group Conversation Without InterruptingHow to break into a group already talking at a party or event: which groups are open, where to stand, when to speak and the first line to say.
How to Make Conversation at a Business Dinner With ClientsWhat to talk about over dinner with clients or colleagues: when to talk business, personal topics that are safe, the host's job, and example lines for each stage.
How to Make Conversation at After-Work Drinks With CoworkersWhat to talk about at happy hour with colleagues, how to join in when you don't drink much or don't know the group, and how to leave without it being a thing.
How to Make Friends as an Adult: Turning Chats Into FriendshipsHow to turn friendly small talk into a real adult friendship: the second conversation, the first invite, what to say, and following up without seeming needy.
How to Make Friends in College: What to Say First WeekWhat to say to people in the dorm, at orientation and in your first classes: openers for new students, how to turn a chat into plans, and what to do if it feels slow.
How to Make Small Talk at a BBQ or Cookout With New PeopleWhat to talk about at a BBQ or cookout with people you don't know: grill-side openers, lawn-game chat, food topics, helping out and moving between groups.
How to Make Small Talk at a Wedding Table Full of StrangersWhat to say when you're seated with strangers at a wedding: how to open, where to go after 'How do you know the couple?', and how to bring the whole table in.
How to Make Small Talk at the Dog Park (and Meet Neighbors)What to say to other dog owners at the park or on walks: dog-first openers, moving from the dog to the person, swapping names, and making friends.
How to Make Small Talk in English as a Non-Native SpeakerHow to make small talk in English when it's your second language: useful phrases, what the usual questions really mean, cultural habits, and lines that buy you time.
How to Make Small Talk on a Phone Call Without Video CuesHow to chat at the start of a phone call without seeing their face: voice-only openers, avoiding talking over each other, pauses, and getting to the point.
How to Make Small Talk With Customers in Retail or ServiceWhat to say to customers at the till, shop floor or front desk: friendly openers for a 30-second interaction, lines to avoid, and who wants to chat.
How to Make Small Talk With Your CEO or Senior LeadersWhat to say if you end up next to the CEO or a VP in the lift, at lunch or at an event: short, confident lines that aren't a pitch or a complaint.
How to Make Small Talk With Your Neighbors (and Get to Know Them)What to say to neighbors in the hallway, driveway or after moving in: first introductions, short repeat chats, and how to turn a wave into a friendly relationship.
How to Politely Interrupt Someone Who Won't Stop TalkingHow to interrupt someone who dominates a conversation or meeting: when to step in, lines that get a word in kindly, and how to use your voice and timing.
How to Respond to a Compliment Without Being AwkwardWhat to say when someone compliments you, with replies for work, looks and achievements, plus how to give compliments that start a conversation.
How to Stop Being Awkward in Conversations: Practical FixesWhy you feel awkward in conversation and how to stop: eight common awkward habits, what to do instead, and a one-week plan to practice the fixes out loud.
How to Talk to the Person Next to You on a Plane (or Not)What to say to your seatmate on a flight, how to tell if they want to chat, and polite ways to end the conversation on a long flight without seeming rude.
How to Talk to Your Crush Without Freezing Up (What to Say)What to say to someone you like: how to start the first real conversation, lines that keep it light, how to show interest, and what to do when you freeze.
How to Talk to Your Partner's Friends When You First MeetWhat to say when you meet your partner's friend group for the first time: openers, handling in-jokes, questions that win people over, and what to avoid.
Should You Talk to Your Uber Driver? What to Say in a RideWhether to chat with your Uber, Lyft or taxi driver, how to tell if they want to talk, and what to say on a 5, 15 or 40-minute ride.
Small Talk for Introverts: How to Chat Without Draining OutHow to make small talk as an introvert: budget your energy, choose one-to-one chats over groups, prepare a few questions, and leave events before you're empty.
What to Do When Someone Gives One-Word Answers in ConversationHow to keep talking to someone who replies 'good', 'fine' or 'yeah': open questions, sharing first, reading why they're quiet, and knowing when to stop.
What to Say at a Funeral or Wake: Talking to Family and GuestsWhat to say to the bereaved family at a funeral or wake, simple condolence lines, what to avoid, and how to talk gently with guests you don't know.
What to Say at Speed Dating: Questions for 3-5 Minute DatesWhat to say in a 3-5 minute speed date: a minute-by-minute plan, openers, questions that reveal more than small talk, and what to skip so each round counts.
What to Say in a Coffee Chat or Informational InterviewHow to run a networking coffee chat with someone in a field you want to join: how to open, the best questions to ask, how to make the ask, and how to follow up.
What to Say in Small Talk Before a Job Interview StartsWhat to say at reception, on the walk to the room and in the first minute with the interviewer, with example lines and the mistakes that set a bad tone.
What to Say to Recruiters at a Career Fair (Examples)What to say at a career fair booth: a 20-second introduction with examples, smart questions to ask the recruiter, and how to close and follow up.
What to Say When You Forget Someone's Name Mid-ConversationHow to recover when you forget someone's name: honest lines, quiet tricks to hear it again, and what to do when you have to introduce them to someone else.
What to Talk About at a Baby Shower When You Barely Know AnyoneWhat to say at a baby or bridal shower where you only know the guest of honor: openers for other guests, safe topics, what not to ask, and the games.
What to Talk About at a School or College Reunion (Examples)What to say at a 10- or 20-year school or college reunion: openers, catching up beyond job titles, handling comparisons, and reconnecting for real.
What to Talk About at a Work Holiday Party (Without Talking Work)What to say at the office holiday party to coworkers, their partners and senior people, with topics beyond work, example lines and the mistakes people regret.
What to Talk About at Lunch With Coworkers or a New TeamWhat to talk about at lunch with coworkers or a new team: group topics beyond work, questions that include everyone, what to avoid, and tips for new joiners.
What to Talk About on a Second Date (Going Deeper)What to talk about on a second date once the basics are covered: callbacks to the first date, questions that go one layer deeper, and how to talk about future plans.
What to Talk About With Your Hairdresser or BarberWhat to say in the chair at a haircut, the topics stylists and barbers enjoy, and polite lines for when you'd rather sit quietly.