3 Tips for Less Awkward, More Engaging Small Talk

Updated 2026

Imagine: You're at a networking event and someone you've never met turns to you and says, "So, have you been to this event before?" You smile, you have something real to say, and the conversation takes off naturally. No awkward silences. No reaching for your phone.

That is what small talk looks like when you are prepared for it, and it is a skill that everyone can learn.

For early-career professionals navigating client events, recruiting dinners, team gatherings, or even the break room, small talk is key to relationship building. Here are four tips to help make it feel less awkward and more like you.

1. Be Informed on the News

Confident conversationalists carry a mental toolkit of topics. Building yours starts with staying current on what is happening around you.

• Keep current on local, national, global, and industry news.

• If your schedule is packed, choose a trusted newsletter you can skim or a daily news podcast you can listen to before an event.

As you read, mentally flag positive topics from current events, pop culture, or industry trends: a recent local festival, a book people are talking about, a headline about innovation in your field. These are your conversation starters.

2. Know Before You Go

A few minutes of research before the event can make a real difference.

• Who is sponsoring the event, and what is their mission?

• Is there a keynote speaker? What is their background and topic?

• Is it a charitable event? What are the auction items or the cause?

Details like these turn into natural openers. For example: "I saw your firm has supported this cause for years. How did that partnership start?" When you walk in with knowledge, you walk in with confidence. After doing a bit of research, you might actually look forward to attending the event!

3. Ask Follow-Up Questions

Meaningful small talk happens when you ask questions.

When your conversation partner shares something, resist the urge to immediately pivot to your own experience. Keep the focus on them a little longer.

• Ask on-topic follow-up questions that show you're interested in what they have to say.

• Keep questions open-ended: "What drew you to that work?" or "What do you enjoy most about this event?"

• Aim for two to three follow-up questions before you shift the focus or change the topic.

This simple connection-building technique helps you learn about your conversation partner, and it helps them feel seen and heard.

4. Use Your Phone Thoughtfully

Your phone can quietly shut down small talk before it even starts. For many colleagues, especially those who are not digital natives, a glance at your phone mid-conversation can read as disinterest, even when it is not intentional.

• Keep your phone in your bag or pocket during conversations if you can.

• If that is not practical, keep it on mute and avoid glancing at it while someone is speaking.

• If you need to take a call or send a text, excuse yourself and handle it privately.

These small choices signal that you are present and approachable, and that goes a long way across generations and workplace cultures.

Bottom line: Small talk will not always feel perfect. But with a little preparation, it can feel a lot less awkward and a lot more like you.

Stayce Wagner is the author of Modern Business Etiquette for Young & Fabulous Professionals, available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, the iTunes Store, and other major outlets. Stayce is the founder and CEO of Spencer Crane Etiquette, LLC, where business etiquette and authenticity are partners, not rivals. We invite you to contact us today to discuss how we can help you with your business etiquette needs.