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Simple Small Talk: An Everyday Social Skills Guidebook for Introverts on How to Lose Fear and Talk to New People. Including Hacks, Questions and Topics to Instantly Connect, Impress and Network
Discover the Power of Small Talk and Great First Impressions! According to recent sociological research, an average person interacts with approximately 50,000 people throughout their life. The number is even higher if you live in a big city and the figures only represent people you’ve met face to face. Plus, remember that we live in a digital age, and communicate daily with people via emails and social media.
Do you ever wonder what kind of impression you leave on the people you meet?
Have you ever been introduced to someone only to run out of things to say after the initial “hello”?
Do you struggle with small talk and often find yourself in an “awkward silence” situation?
Luckily, there are methods and techniques you can use to improve your small talk skills, boost your confidence, and make a great first impression every time!
This book will provide you with a guide on how to use small talk and your body language to establish a connection with anyone.
Did you know that whenever you meet someone new, you have a certain time window to make a lasting, good impression? If you’ve met someone who made a bad impression on you, you know that it often takes a long time to change your opinion about that person.
People tend to judge others based on first impressions. It can be challenging to show the best version of yourself when you only have a few minutes to do so. It’s especially hard if you’re an introvert, naturally shy, and struggle with social interactions.
That’s why this book is written to provide you a clear and easy-to-follow guide on how to connect with people using small talk to make a great and lasting first impression!
This book gives Confidence to enjoy small talks Simple actionable tips on how to overcome fear and shyness in everyday social interactions Ways to avoid awkward silence Techniques on how to initiate a conversation and prolong it Knowledge of what topics to avoid when making small talk Ability to use your body language to improve the way you present yourself Understanding how to decode nonverbal signals, observe body language, and respond appropriately Methods to improve your overall conversational skills Smart ways to say goodbye and end conversations Easy to follow steps on leaving great first impressions Insights on how to use small talk to instantly create a connection Ideas to improve your social skills and small talk skills daily Proven methods that work to create steady progress in learning this communication skill. Intelligent approaches on how to use small talk to expand your network Even if you thrive in social interactions, we all have challenges sometimes. You should be able to master all the different approaches to meeting different kinds of people.
Do you ever wonder what kind of impression you leave on the people you meet?
Have you ever been introduced to someone only to run out of things to say after the initial “hello”?
Do you struggle with small talk and often find yourself in an “awkward silence” situation?
Luckily, there are methods and techniques you can use to improve your small talk skills, boost your confidence, and make a great first impression every time!
This book will provide you with a guide on how to use small talk and your body language to establish a connection with anyone.
Did you know that whenever you meet someone new, you have a certain time window to make a lasting, good impression? If you’ve met someone who made a bad impression on you, you know that it often takes a long time to change your opinion about that person.
People tend to judge others based on first impressions. It can be challenging to show the best version of yourself when you only have a few minutes to do so. It’s especially hard if you’re an introvert, naturally shy, and struggle with social interactions.
That’s why this book is written to provide you a clear and easy-to-follow guide on how to connect with people using small talk to make a great and lasting first impression!
This book gives Confidence to enjoy small talks Simple actionable tips on how to overcome fear and shyness in everyday social interactions Ways to avoid awkward silence Techniques on how to initiate a conversation and prolong it Knowledge of what topics to avoid when making small talk Ability to use your body language to improve the way you present yourself Understanding how to decode nonverbal signals, observe body language, and respond appropriately Methods to improve your overall conversational skills Smart ways to say goodbye and end conversations Easy to follow steps on leaving great first impressions Insights on how to use small talk to instantly create a connection Ideas to improve your social skills and small talk skills daily Proven methods that work to create steady progress in learning this communication skill. Intelligent approaches on how to use small talk to expand your network Even if you thrive in social interactions, we all have challenges sometimes. You should be able to master all the different approaches to meeting different kinds of people.
- GenresSelf HelpNonfiction
129 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2020
25 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 9, 2020
Communication is key whether it has been personal or professional. Definitely, in order to build new contact, we usually start with small talk or just word hello. The Author Gerard Shaw in this book explains in a simple way to entertain small talk.
In our everyday life, we come across many occasions where some people are facing some difficulties and out of that fear is most serious. The author shares some common examples to understand how we act in such conditions and what should be an ideal response to that kind of situation.
Throughout reading this book, I’ve found simple and in common language. At the starting of each chapter, the author gives cue what will come and at the end of the chapter, a bit of summary and again what will be the next.
This book demonstrates various case studies that help introverts as well as extroverts only if they put those shared techniques in action.
I would say this book anyone can read who wants to learn about how to get involved in communicating effectively.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In our everyday life, we come across many occasions where some people are facing some difficulties and out of that fear is most serious. The author shares some common examples to understand how we act in such conditions and what should be an ideal response to that kind of situation.
Throughout reading this book, I’ve found simple and in common language. At the starting of each chapter, the author gives cue what will come and at the end of the chapter, a bit of summary and again what will be the next.
This book demonstrates various case studies that help introverts as well as extroverts only if they put those shared techniques in action.
I would say this book anyone can read who wants to learn about how to get involved in communicating effectively.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2020
I am an enneagram type 5 - if you aren't familiar with the enneagram, this basically means that I am an academic and thus love theories and data and patterns, but social skills are not my strength. So coming from this perspective made this book quite interesting. As a former communication student, I loved how he combined some of the more popular communication theories with practical application ideas. It was really cool to see both the what and the why behind everything he talked about. It was also nice to have this information come from someone who had to learn it intentionally as well. So often self-help books feel like they are written by someone who has all of the answers and is benevolently sharing them with the readers, but Shaw made it feel like he was coming alongside the reader.
I really only have two complaints. First, some of the dialog in the examples he gave was a little awkward, which made them hard to accept as desirable outcomes after reading the books. In all fairness, though, I would feel awkward writing these, so I can't complain too much. The second point was that I already knew a lot of the information that was included. It is highly probable that this is because I did major in communication studies in undergrad, so I really have no ability to guess what non-comm majors know.
Overall, this book was a good balance of helping readers get excited about trying out the ideas written about and challenging them to get outside of their comfort zone.
I really only have two complaints. First, some of the dialog in the examples he gave was a little awkward, which made them hard to accept as desirable outcomes after reading the books. In all fairness, though, I would feel awkward writing these, so I can't complain too much. The second point was that I already knew a lot of the information that was included. It is highly probable that this is because I did major in communication studies in undergrad, so I really have no ability to guess what non-comm majors know.
Overall, this book was a good balance of helping readers get excited about trying out the ideas written about and challenging them to get outside of their comfort zone.
July 30, 2020
Socializing is a skill that everyone has to develop in order to achieve success in their lives. But we all have that fear or self doubt which hinders us from making those little efforts towards socializing. And when we do talk to people we fall short of words after some time. This is a problem for everyone I suppose.
Why does this happen?
What to do when you mind goes blank when you are in the middle of a conversation?
What steps you need to take to prevent this?
Well all of your questions are answered amazingly in this book.
The Author Gerard Shaw in this book explains in a beautiful realistic way what is small talk and how and why is it important and gives tips and methods that helps us socialise with others even when you haven't done this before. He tells us what to talk, how to talk and what to avoid while conversing with others.
He explains in detail from how to start a conversation, how to keep a conversation lively and how to end a small talk to how important is having confidence and overcoming your fears. He gives few examples to prove how non-verbal communication is more important and effective than words and how to identify those non-verbal cues to keep your small talk effective.
He gives us examples to begin our small talk with and also few samples to keep our small talk going on and to end the conversation neatly.
I found this book really interesting and helpful. I really liked how the author explained the methods like FORD, FORM, ARE etc to give us an understanding of the importance of small talk and tips on how to use them while conversing.
I strongly recommend this book to all those who think they are bad at conversing with others and have trouble socialising. Trust me you will not regret reading this book.
You attain perfection only through consistently practice. So in order to be successful in your attempts of socializing you need to practice the methods that are explained in this book everyday, in every conversation, no matter if it's your fried, relative or a stranger.
So don't just read this book for the sake of reading but practice until the results start showing and practice even after that.
Why does this happen?
What to do when you mind goes blank when you are in the middle of a conversation?
What steps you need to take to prevent this?
Well all of your questions are answered amazingly in this book.
The Author Gerard Shaw in this book explains in a beautiful realistic way what is small talk and how and why is it important and gives tips and methods that helps us socialise with others even when you haven't done this before. He tells us what to talk, how to talk and what to avoid while conversing with others.
He explains in detail from how to start a conversation, how to keep a conversation lively and how to end a small talk to how important is having confidence and overcoming your fears. He gives few examples to prove how non-verbal communication is more important and effective than words and how to identify those non-verbal cues to keep your small talk effective.
He gives us examples to begin our small talk with and also few samples to keep our small talk going on and to end the conversation neatly.
I found this book really interesting and helpful. I really liked how the author explained the methods like FORD, FORM, ARE etc to give us an understanding of the importance of small talk and tips on how to use them while conversing.
I strongly recommend this book to all those who think they are bad at conversing with others and have trouble socialising. Trust me you will not regret reading this book.
You attain perfection only through consistently practice. So in order to be successful in your attempts of socializing you need to practice the methods that are explained in this book everyday, in every conversation, no matter if it's your fried, relative or a stranger.
So don't just read this book for the sake of reading but practice until the results start showing and practice even after that.
October 16, 2020
I understand why this book is geared towards introverts, but as he mentions near the end it is of value for anyone wanting to improve their conversational skills. The style is very readable and the lingo that is used is either simple or explained. Over the years I've read a few different books on communication as well as body language and this was consistent while still being inspiring. If you've never read about improving your conversational abilities this will offer you a lot of insights. If you have read on these topics this book will offer few new insights, but may give inspiration to apply what you've already learned. Reading something like this feels like studying common sense. On the one hand, you think you shouldn't have to read it, but on the other hand, you will realize common sense isn't that common. Throughout the book the author puts into words habits and hangups that you may not think about until you are watching for it. This is the greatest benefit of the book. There are tips and tricks along the way to overcome the many hurdles any conversation may face.
As another reviewer has noted some of the mock conversations that are fabricated for example are not compelling or don't feel realistic. I admit, that would be very difficult to write, but it still loses a star for me. The lesson is still valid and valuable. Overall, I recommend the book to anyone interested in sharpening this skill. With our digital platforms the muscle of maintaining face to face conversation doesn't get as much exercise as it needs so I think books like this will only grow in value in the coming years.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As another reviewer has noted some of the mock conversations that are fabricated for example are not compelling or don't feel realistic. I admit, that would be very difficult to write, but it still loses a star for me. The lesson is still valid and valuable. Overall, I recommend the book to anyone interested in sharpening this skill. With our digital platforms the muscle of maintaining face to face conversation doesn't get as much exercise as it needs so I think books like this will only grow in value in the coming years.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 27, 2021
Not Really for Just Introverts; Helpful for Small Talk for All
I think this author has good intentions, but he seems to be a bit confused about the concepts of being an introvert, being shy, and having social anxiety. He wants to lump them all together with other things like fear and paint them all with a broad brush. As a lifelong introvert, I can emphatically say that what he states is not the case for all! The subtitle states that this book is about small talk for introverts, but it didn't really seem to be fully slanted towards us. Honestly, I would set aside what the author states about introverts altogether (because he gets it wrong!) and just look at his small talk advice, which could apply to anyone who is put into social or business situations requiring small talk... which is pretty much all of us. Some of this book is awkwardly written and poorly punctuated; the author needed a good copyeditor, or at least a proofreader. The first line after the introduction literally made me roll my eyes at how poorly he stated it. Luckily, most of the book is not as bad. If you have problems making small talk or would just like some hints and tips to help it all flow more smoothly for you, this book might give you some insights that will help. Just try not to mind his attitude at times!
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I think this author has good intentions, but he seems to be a bit confused about the concepts of being an introvert, being shy, and having social anxiety. He wants to lump them all together with other things like fear and paint them all with a broad brush. As a lifelong introvert, I can emphatically say that what he states is not the case for all! The subtitle states that this book is about small talk for introverts, but it didn't really seem to be fully slanted towards us. Honestly, I would set aside what the author states about introverts altogether (because he gets it wrong!) and just look at his small talk advice, which could apply to anyone who is put into social or business situations requiring small talk... which is pretty much all of us. Some of this book is awkwardly written and poorly punctuated; the author needed a good copyeditor, or at least a proofreader. The first line after the introduction literally made me roll my eyes at how poorly he stated it. Luckily, most of the book is not as bad. If you have problems making small talk or would just like some hints and tips to help it all flow more smoothly for you, this book might give you some insights that will help. Just try not to mind his attitude at times!
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
October 19, 2020
This was an informative and helpful book that was well designed. I would recommend it to someone interested in helping themselve communicate better or feel better with communicating. It is a nice self-help book with ideas we can apply daily. Nevertheless, some of the information presented may be common sense to some readers or they may feel it isn't right for them. Everyone is different on what will be the right balance and advice to help. I would have liked more scholarly research and less internet research, yet what was provided was the most basic in getting started helping with simple small talk skills. I think it does help there. It is an interesting book with some helpful ideas and information.
March 4, 2025
If you're looking for help communication, don't waste your time on Simple Small Talk. Gerard Shaw's short book (more of a pamphlet really) collects online articles mostly from business magazines like Forbes. Helpfully the exact articles are listed in the back of the book. Shaw recommends in the first part of the book to work on your self confidence. I think anyone could do a Google search and come up with better information than what is provided in this book.
July 11, 2024
Practical and helpful.
November 25, 2025
Easily the fastest I’ve read a book in a long time. I just couldn’t put this one down, as I have struggled not only with social anxiety for nearly a decade, but also making small talk.
Gerard felt like a friend throughout this entire book, breaking down the basics of small talk instructions and making this journey thoroughly engaging to read!
I will definitely be returning to this book to further develop my progress with small talk in the modern digital age!
Gerard felt like a friend throughout this entire book, breaking down the basics of small talk instructions and making this journey thoroughly engaging to read!
I will definitely be returning to this book to further develop my progress with small talk in the modern digital age!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews