UNIT 2: IMPORTANCE OF SMALL TALK IN

BUSINESS
Structure

2.0 Objectives
2.1 Warm Up
2.2 Reading
2.3 Listening and Speaking
2.4 Language Focus
2.5 Vocabulary
2.6 Writing
2.7 Speaking
2.8 Grammar: Negatives
2.9 Let Us Sum Up
2.10 Answers

2.0 OBJECTIVES
In this unit you will be introduced to:

• what is small talk

• the importance of small talk in work situations
• how to prepare for small talk
• suitable topics for small talk
• taboo topics
• building business relationships through small talk
• suitable language for small talk
• how to make effective small talk/social conversation
• use of negatives
• stress patterns in English words

2.1 WARM UP
1 What is small talk?

Small talk is a short conversation.

No, I think small talk is social talk

before you talk shop.

What do you think? Well, move on and find out for yourself.

2 "Every Conversation is an Opportunity for Success"

- Debra Fine

i What is the importance of conversation in business?

ii How can good conversation lead to higher levels of success and
achievement at work?

Think of the answers to these questions. In the course of this unit you will
learn about the importance of effective and appropriate social
conversation in business.
23
3 Read the statemennts given beelow. Decidde which of them expressses your
own point
p of vieww. Ask a friiend or partnner to do thee same. Then discuss
the reasons for yoour agreemennt/disagreem
ment.

i mall talk. It’ss such a waste of time.”

“I never inndulge in sm
ii “Socializinng is the art of breaking the ice and making
m friennds.”
iii “What wee say and ho ow we say iis important because thiis reveals
our personnality.”
iv “I love chaatting with friends.
f It’s such fun.”

4 Here is a picturee of two

peoplee who are greeting
each other. It is evident
that thhey are meeeting for
some business purpose.
When n you meet ffor work,
it is important
i too have a
short social convversation
beforee you actuallly begin
to taalk shop. This is
called
d small talk.

5 So whhat do you nnow

think
k is small tallk?

o Small talkk is
pleasant
conversatiion
about com mmon
interests.
o It is a preluude to a
business
conversatiion. It is meaant to put people at ease before they get
down to buusiness.
o It helps to create a favvourable environment forr talking bussiness.
o It may also help youu to developp a better understandin
u ng of the
person thaat you are dooing businesss with.

A
Activity 1
Take a look at
T a these bits oof conversattion in the sppeech balloons and consiider
w
whether they are approprriate for smalll talk.

How muchh does

i
your comppany
pay you?

iii Diid you have a

comfortable joourney?

24
 Im
mportance of small
iii Are yyou marriedd or ta
alk in businesss
singlle?

iv
Is tthis your firsst
vissit to Delhi?

Noww check yourr responses with

w the ‘Annswers Sectioon’ and read
d about why some
of thhese conversations are innappropriate for small talk.

Actiivity 2

all talk with foreigners

Sma

Whaat would you u say in thee following situations ass part of sm

mall talk afteer you
havee greeted thee visitors? Work
W with a partner
p and simulate
s the conversationn.

i A busineess visitor has just arrivved from thee US. You receive
r him at the
airport.
ii You receeive an impo ortant Britishh client in yoour cabin.
iii An Austtralian busin ness associaate has justt arrived froom Sydney.. It is
01.00 am m in India wh
hen you meeet him at the airport.
iv An Ameerican businness associaate has justt joined you u for lunchh in a
restaurannt?
v An Austrralian visitorr has arrived
d to take a look at your faactory.

Takee a look at thhe samples given in thee ‘Answers S Section’ andd match them m with
yourr topics. Rem
member thatt there is noo single righht answer. The samples in the
‘Ansswers Sectioon’ are indicators of whaat is consideered appropriate in each of the
given situations keeping in mind
m the bacckground andd culture of the visitor.

Actiivity 3

Takee a look at these

t topics and match them to thee flags of thee countries where
they would be apppropriate ass topics for small
s talk:

i Baseball
ii Cricket
iii Theatre
iv Going too the Beach / board riding
g
v Lawn Teennis
vi Schools (meaning
( coolleges you have
h studied from)
2
2.2 READING
Read this text on small talk and answer the questions that follow:

1 Small talk requires important social skills which are highly valued at the
workplace. It helps to break the ice before important business meetings
and events.

2 Many people are comfortable talking about business but do not know how
to begin a conversation at business meetings appropriately. This is mostly
because they do not know what to talk about. It may also be because they
are not confident about their language. Hence both confidence about what
to say and how to say it are essential for effective small talk.

3 It is helpful to keep these tips in mind about small talk:

Be aware of the type of person / people you will be meeting. Some prior
preparation can be extremely helpful. If the visitor happens to be from a
region, state or country other than yours then look up information about
the place s/he comes from. This can easily be done over the Internet.
Knowledge of a few words belonging to the language of the visitor can be
of additional help. Your visitor will appreciate your special interest and
your conversation will then be more meaningful.

4 During your conversation it is advisable to stay away from personal

beliefs and controversial topics. These include your religious beliefs,
value system, political convictions, affiliations and connections.

5 Also do not invade the personal space of the visitor by asking about
personal matters like whether s/he is married or not, how many children
s/he has, what they are doing, her/his salary, age etc. Subjects like
weather, sports, entertainment are safe subjects.

6 In the course of your initial conversation you may be able to identify

some areas of common interest. Once you have a subject that interests
both of you, keep to it! You can do this in a number of ways: talking
about travel, talking about the school or friend you have in common,
talking about the differences between your culture and the new culture,
without passing judgments on which one is better.

7 And most importantly, be a good listener. Don't get so carried away with
your preparation for the meeting and your ability to communicate that you
don't listen. Listening carefully will help you understand and encourage
those speaking to you.

8 In some situations, you might be nervous or uncomfortable and not know

how to begin. In such cases, letting others state their opinions will
improve the quality of the discussion - and give you time to think of an
answer!

Check your progress 1

Now after reading these paragraphs can you answer the following questions?

1 Match these subtitles with the appropriate paragraphs of the reading

passage which are numbered.
26
 i common ground ……………............... Importance of small
talk in business
ii ideologies ……………...............
iii don’t get personal ……………...............
iv objective of small talk ……………...............
v difficulties encountered in small talk ……………...............
vi overcoming anxiety ……………...............
vii paying attention to what you are being told ……………...............
viii doing your homework ……………...............

2 Find words / expressions in the text with similar meanings to these.

i at ease ……………...............
ii in advance ……………...............
iii find out ……………...............
iv intrude upon ……………...............
v harmless ……………...............
vi express ……………...............

Safe and unsafe topics for small talk

The ability to make 'small talk' is highly valued. Though it may appear to be
simple, but in reality, many people find it extremely difficult to handle because,
unlike business conversations, where you are in control of the content, in small
talk you can’t be sure about what may be considered as appropriate. Here are
some widely accepted topics:

• Sports – current matches or games, favorite teams, etc. Be careful about

the choice of sport though. You cannot talk about cricket to an American
just as you cannot discuss baseball within India.
• Any major activities that are going on at the moment.
• Current affairs – recent incidents.
• Hobbies
• Weather – this may sound boring, but it can help to break the ice!
• Family – general questions, not questions about private matters – this is a
common topic in India.
• Media – films, books, magazines, websites etc.
• Holidays – where, when, etc.
• Home town – where do you come from / grew up; how is it different/
similar to this town.
• Job – once again, general questions not too specific.
• Latest fashion and trends.
• Celebrities.
• Festivals – common in India.

And here are some taboo topics that you’d like to avoid.

• Salary - how much do you make?

• Politics - including political ideologies / philosophies
• Marital status
• Age 27
• Intimate relationships
• Religion
• Death
• Financial - related to salary or the cost of anything you possess including
your house
• Sales – Don't try to sell something to someone you have just met

Building relationships in business

In a country like India

building a relationship is
important even in
business. Indians tend to
deal favourably with those
they know and trust - even
at the expense of lucrative
deals. It is vital that a good
working relationship is
founded with any
prospective partner. Small
talk and social conversa-
tions can go a long way in
helping to build a
favourable relationship. In addition to this, demonstrating strong business
acumen, and at a personal level, i.e. relating to your partner and exhibiting the
positive traits of trustworthiness and honour would contribute greatly to a
conducive relationship.

Most meetings start with a great deal of getting-to- know-you talk. In fact, it is
quite possible that no business will be discussed at the first meeting. This can be
quite problematic for people from other cultures, particularly the West.

Indians are in awe of famous people, particularly from the world of cricket and
cinema. Hence celebrities, who are frequently used for advertising goods and
services, can make a good topic for social conversations. Also there are close
links between sport, films and business. Many business luminaries befriend stars
or sponsor events. The recent bidding of cricket teams by business tycoons and
film stars amounting to crores of rupees is indicative of the close links between
sports, films and business in India.

Check your progress 2

Based on the tips given in the above text, what advice would you give to a
foreignerwho wants to do business with someone inIndia?

……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
……………………………………………………………………………………...
………………………………………………………………………… 28
…………...
Body language Importance of small
talk in business
Appropriate body language is an essential part of communication. In India the
head is considered the seat of the soul. Never touch someone else’s head, not
even to pat the hair of a child.

Beckoning someone with the palm up and wagging one finger can be construed
as an insult. Standing with your hands on your hips will be interpreted as an
angry, aggressive posture. Hence both of these must be avoided.

Whistling is impolite and winking, which is acceptable in some cultures, may be

interpreted as either an insult or a sexual proposition in India.

Never point your feet at a person. Feet are considered unclean. If your shoes or
feet touch another person, apologize.

Indians are less sensitive to personal space and often use the touch to
communicate warmth or intimacy. This is in contrast to many countries where an
elbow length or even an arm’s length is considered suitable.

Check your progress 3

Make a list of the do’s and don’ts from the above text on suitable body language
in India.
………………………….………………………………………..…………………
……………………….…………………………………………..…………………
…………………….……………………………………………………..…………

2.3 LISTENING AND SPEAKING

Listen to five speakers telling you about how they prepare and conduct
themselves at business meetings or events (Tape script 1). Pause the CD after
each speaker has spoken and then express your agreement/ disagreement with
them by imagining that you are in conversation with them.

Activity 4

1 Now listen to the audios again and match what each speaker says with the
statements given below:

i This speaker displays good social etiquette by being attentive.

ii This speaker believes that information is the key to effective
conversation.
iii This speaker relies on humour in conversation.
iv This is the speaker who takes the initiative.
v This speaker likes to prepare for small talk in accordance with the
people he is going to meet.

Activity 5

Now listen to some information on the social etiquette of Australians (Tape script
2) and answer the given questions:

Put a tick mark against the statements that are true according to the speaker.
29
i It is important to keep ample time for small talk with Australians.
ii Taking the trouble to become acquainted with local conditions and issues
will help you to win approval and acceptance with them.
iii Australians have a passion for indoor activities.
iv Australians are easy going and often take the initiative to start a
conversation.
v It is best to avoid personal questions with them.

Activity 6
(Tape script-3) Listen to Conversation 1 and identify what is wrong with the
conversation here.

.……………………………..………………………………………………………
……………………….……..………………………………………………………

Now listen to Conversation 2 and state why the second one is better than the
first.
………………………….……......…………………………………………………
……………………….……………..………………………………………………
………………………….……………......…………………………………………
……………………….………………………..……………………………………
……………………….………………………..……………………………………

Match your analysis with the one given in the ‘Answers Section’.

2.4 LANGUAGE FOCUS

When you meet people you can begin a conversation with them by doing any one
of these three things.

You can make an observation.

Lovely weather! Isn’t it?

It’s too cold for this time of the year.
The trains usually run late this season because of the fog.
Attendance for the event seems better than last year. (at a business event)

You can ask a question.

What do you like best about living here?

Which is the best place you have travelled to?
How often do you come to Meerut?
Is this your first visit here?
Did you have a comfortable journey?
What do you think of…..?
What is your take on……………?
30
Have you heard of ……………….?
You can reveal something about yourself. Importance of small
talk in business
I’ve worked at several places in M.P.
I like watching reality shows. How about you?
I enjoy playing / watching cricket? How about you?

Activity 7

Now can you complete these questions / statements which have been begun for
you?

i How often do you…………………………….?

ii Do you like ………………………………..…?
iii What is your favourite…………….………….?
iv Where did you first…………………..……….?
v Would you like some…………………………?

2.5 VOCABULARY

Activity 8

1 Match the key words in the left column with the words/phrases on the
right.

a Start Names
b Keep social functions with confidence
c Remember a dying conversation
d Use "active" listeners
e Avoid business relationships and social friendships
f Revive a conversation
g Develop rapport building skills
h Approach conversation "killers" like negative remarks
i Become your body language is inviting and natural
j Mingle a conversation going
k Improve conversation with grace
l Makesure the most of networking opportunities
m Overcome icebreakers and conversation starters that work
every time
n Make awkward social situations carefully
o Handle into an opportunity for success
p Exit communication barriers
q Turn every composed and self-assured when talking to
conversation people or entertaining clients
r Come across as with confidence

2 Complete this paragraph by filling up the gaps with suitable words from
the box.

develop impact overcome conversation influences

shyness master professional difficult crucial
recognize break discovered successful perceive
start
31
 Small talk is _______________ in any relationship. Everyday
conversation can make or _______________ relationships in our personal
and ______________ lives. Unfortunately, most people don't realize how
important small talk is, and hence do not do anything to
_______________or improve this skill. Developing the ability to make
small talk is not as _______________as many other work related skills
once we_________________ its importance and worth.

A Stanford University School of Business study showed its

_________________ on business success. It tracked MBA's 10 years after
graduation, and _________________ that grade point averages had no
bearing on their success − but ____________ did. Most ______________
were those who could make conversation with anyone − from strangers,
to secretaries, to bosses to customers.

Small talk has a great impact on your success in 'personal' relationships,

because it ________________how others see you in terms of intelligence
and confidence. Most people ________________ good conversationalists
as more intelligent and confident.

Despite the importance of small talk, most people don't do it well. One
major reason is ______________ and another common reason is not
knowing how to _______________ a conversation. There are also some
who do not have anything to say. All of these difficulties can be
________________, once you decide to _______________ this art.

2.6 WRITING
Check your progress 4

1 Expand these tips on small talk into paragraphs of at least 4 to 5

sentences. This will also serve as a revision for some of the hints that you
have come across in the earlier part of the unit. Now compare the
paragraphs prepared by you with the sample answers given in the
‘Answers Section’.

i Think ahead
ii Have something to say
iii Observe and listen
…..…………………………………………………………..……...………
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……...………
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……...………
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………...
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..…
32
 …………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………... Importance of small
…..…………………………………………………………..…………….. talk in business

…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..

2 Write about 100 words each on at least one of these topics.

i Conversation is an art
ii The burden of conversation
iii Building relationships through small talk
…..…………………………………………………………..……...………
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………...
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..
…..…………………………………………………………..……………..

2.7 SPEAKING
Activity 9
Imagine that you are B and A is having a conversation with you. Complete this
dialogue with suitable questions / statements.

A: How are you?

B: …………………………………………………..

B: …………………………………………………..
A: I’m fine too.

A: It’s good to see you after such a long time.

B: …………………………………………………..

A: So did you have a comfortable journey?

B: …………………………………………………..

A: …………………………………………………..
B: I last visited this place six months ago.
A: Have you been following the cricket series?
B: …………………………………………………..
A: True. I’ve been enjoying the matches too. 33
You may match your answers with the ones given in the ‘Answers Section’.
Activity 10
Discuss the importance of these tips on small talk with your study partner:
i Be yourself
ii Smile
iii Be a good listener
iv Do not force the conversation

2.8 GRAMMAR: NEGATIVES

• To make negatives, we put not or n’t after an auxiliary verb. (be, have, may
etc.). Example:

They are not (aren’t) confident about their language.

• If there is no other auxiliary verb, we use do. Example:

Positive: They know what to talk about.

Negative: They do not (don’t) know what to talk about.
Negative: He does not (doesn’t) know what to talk about.

• Another type of negation is called affixal. Here we add a prefix or an affix

to a word, which makes the sentence negative. Example:
Positive: ….your conversation will then be more meaningful.
Negative: …your conversation will then be meaningless.
Negative: …in some situations, you might be nervous or uncomfortable.
Negative: ……..whistling is impolite.

Check your progress 5

1 Make negatives of the following sentences using not:

i Vinay opened the door.

…………………………………………………………..………….
ii You should reply to her email.
………………………………….…………………………………..
iii She is writing a novel these days.
…………………………………….………………………………..
iv He works every Sunday.
……………………………………….……………………………..
v Subhash became a dentist.
………………………………………….…………………………..
vi Sudha has time.
………………….…………………………………………………..
vii He has a cold.
…………………….………………………………………………..
viii Mohan has a chance of winning this match. 34
 ……………………….……………………………………………..
2 Add prefixes to the following words to make them negatives. You may Importance of small
use any of these prefixes (un-, in-, dis-, non-, ir-, it-, im-) talk in business

i Legal
ii Regular
iii Balance
iv Complete
v Able
vi Equality
vii Equal
viii Just
ix Justice
x Similar
xi Unity
xii Violence

2.9 LET US SUM UP

In this unit on small talk you realized the importance of engaging in social
interaction before talking shop. Successful people are those who can go beyond
business to establish relationships with people. We gave you some frozen phrases
in Language Focus which will help you in carrying out a conversation. The
Writing section as well as the Listening gives you further tips in this area. To
improve your accuracy in the language, we revised the formation of negative
words and sentences.

2.10 ANSWERS
Activity 1

(i) and (iii) are inappropriate for small talk.

Topics like salaries and marital status invade the personal territory of people and
hence are too personal to be asked.

Activity 2 Small talk with foreigners

i I hope you had a comfortable flight. / How was the flight? Were you able
to get some sleep?

ii It is wonderful to see you again. I hope you are enjoying the sunshine of
India, or is it too warm for you?

iii You must be tired after the long flight. Would you like to have some
coffee or would you prefer to go to the hotel right away?

iv Have you tried any of the Indian cuisine so far? What would you like to
have for lunch?
35
v Would you like something to drink before we set out? It’s going to be a
rather big tour of the work shop.
Activity 3

i Australia, USA
ii Australia and England
iii England and maybe Australia
iv Australia
v England, Australia and USA in that order
vi USA, England

Check your progress 1

1 Subtitles matched with the appropriate paragraphs of the reading passage.

i common ground - para 6

ii ideologies - para 4
iii don’t get personal - para 5
iv objective of small talk - para 1
v difficulties encountered in small talk - para 2
vi overcoming anxiety - para 8
vii paying attention to what you are being told - para 7
viii doing your homework - para 3

2 Words/expressions in the text with similar meanings:

i at ease - comfortable
ii in advance - prior
iii find out – look up
iv intrude upon - invade
v harmless - safe
vi express - communicate

Check your progress 2

Indians like to invest time in building up a relationship with the person they do
business with. Knowing a person helps them to build trust. Hence one must be
willing to invest time with people in India, instead of hurrying them through
business negotiations or deals.

It is also essential to understand the interests of Indians in areas like cricket, films
etc., so that s/he may know what topics interest people in social conversations.

Check your progress 3

Do’s:
• You may use the touch to communicate warmth
• Apologize if you touch someone with your foot by mistake

Don’ts:
• Do not touch anybody’s head
• Do not call anyone with your palm up or by wagging your finger
• Do not stand upright with your hands on the hips
36
 • Do not whistle or wink
• Do not point your feet at someone
2.3 Listening and Speaking (tape script-1) Importance of small
talk in business
1 Speaker 1 – I usually keep a few short items - anecdotes, jokes, news
stories or other interesting tidbits handy so that I can share them with
others. I may or may not use them but at least I can draw upon this stock
if the need arises.

2 Speaker 2 – Whenever I have to go to a business event or a meeting, I

spend at least 10 minutes thinking about what I have in common with the
people who are going to be there. This helps me to think up topics for
small talk.

3 Speaker 3 – I think it is important to be well read. I like to take a look at

local and national newspapers, magazines and trade publications. That
gives me topics for small talk and conversation while entertaining
business visitors.

4 Speaker 4 – I’m usually the first to say "Hello." If I’m not sure the other
person remembers me, I offer my name to ease the situation. For example,
"Meera Shah? Simrat Khanna − good to see you again." I make sure I
smile when I do this.

5 Speaker 5 – I make sure I stay focused on my conversational partner by

actively listening and giving feedback. I also keep my eye contact and
never glance around the room while someone is talking to me.

Activity 4
Speaker 1 - iii, Speaker 2 - v
Speaker 3 - ii Speaker 4 - iv
Speaker 5 - i

2.3 Listening and Speaking (tape script-2)

Australians are forthright and direct and prefer to get down to business quickly,
although some pleasantries can be exchanged at the beginning of a meeting so
that the atmosphere is relaxed and some personal bonds are established. Most of
them especially enjoy hearing appreciative comments about their country.
Australians relish outdoor life and sport is a national obsession at all levels of
society. Hence these are common topics for small talk or social conversation.

Australians are known for having an easygoing attitude and treating people in an
informal manner. Whilst they may have an informal way of talking to one
another, most would respect other people’s privacy. Therefore, Australians may
not necessarily talk to you first, as they would not like to intrude. It may be up to
you to make the first approach. They are also reluctant to ask personal questions,
or offer advice unless they have been asked.

Activity 5
(ii) and (v) are right. The rest are wrong statements.

2.3 Listening and Speaking (tape script-3)

Conversation 1
37
Mr. Singh: Is this your first visit to India?
Mr. Burns: No, it isn’t. I first came here five years ago for a Trade Fair.
Mr. Singh: Should we get started with the meeting?
Conversation 2

Mr. Singh: Is this your first visit to India?

Mr. Burns: No, it isn’t. I first came here ten years ago for a Trade Fair. It was
much smaller than I expected.
Mr. Singh: Is that so. Well, Mr. Burns. You will find a lot of changes in India
now, including big Trade Fairs.
Mr. Burns: I’m sure that’s true.
Mr. Singh: Should we get started with the meeting?

Activity 6
In the first conversation Mr. Singh asks a question to which Mr. Burns answers.
However, Mr. Singh does not respond to the answer and abruptly suggests that
they get down to business. This is socially unacceptable.

In the second conversation Mr. Singh gives a suitable response to Mr. Burns’
answer and then they get down to business. In small talk it is important to not
change topics abruptly and to complete a conversation that’s been initiated.

Activity 7

This is only a sample answer:

i How often do you travel out of Delhi?

ii Do you like going to the cinema?
iii What is your favourite food / cuisine?
iv Where did you first start work?
v Would you like some tea or coffee?

Activity 8

1 a Start a conversation.
b Keep a conversation going.
c Remember names.
d Use icebreakers and conversation starters that work every time.
e Avoid conversation "killers" like negative remarks.
f Revive a dying conversation.
g Develop business relationships and social friendships.
h Approach social functions with confidence.
i Become "active" listeners.
j Mingle with confidence.
k Improve rapport building skills.
l Makesure your body language is inviting and natural.
m Overcome communication barriers.
n Make the most of networking opportunities.
o Handle awkward social situations carefully.
p Exit conversation with grace.
q Turn every conversation into an opportunity for success.
r Come across as composed and self-assured when talking to
people or entertaining clients.

2 Missing words are given in bold.

38
 Small talk is crucial in any relationship. Everyday conversation can make
or break relationships in our personal and professional lives.
Unfortunately, most people don't realize how important small talk is, and
hence do not do anything to develop or improve this skill. Developing the Importance of small
ability to make small talk is not as difficult as many other work related talk in business
skills once we recognize its importance and worth.

A Stanford University School of Business study showed its impact on

business success. It tracked MBA's 10 years after graduation, and
discovered that grade point averages had no bearing on their success −
but conversation did. Most successful were those who could make
conversation with anyone − from strangers, to secretaries, to bosses to
customers.

Small talk has a great impact on your success in 'personal' relationships,

because it influences how others see you in terms of intelligence and
confidence. Most people perceive good conversationalists as more
intelligent and confident.

Despite the importance of small talk, most people don't do it well. One
major reason is shyness and another common reason is not knowing how
to start a conversation. There are also some who do not have anything to
say. All of these difficulties can be overcome, once you decide to master
this art.

Check your progress 4

1 Sample answer:
i Think ahead
One must not go to a business meeting or event without any prior
preparation. Even if the meeting is a one-to-one face-to-face meeting with
a visitor; it is advisable to think and plan ahead. A good way to start is by
finding out about the person you are going to meet. Accordingly, on the
basis of some preliminary information that you have gathered, you can
decide what topics would be good conversational topics in the given
situation. Advance thinking will enhance your comfort level and help you
to make a good impression on the visitor.

ii Have something to say

For any conversation you must have something sensible to say. If you are
extremely well read or well informed, you will always have something to
talk about. All you need to do is to choose from your stock according to
the people or situation. However, if this is not the case, it is a good idea to
do some information gathering before all important meetings or events
where you need to make social conversation.

iii Observe and listen

An important aspect of small talk is to be a good listener. This is an
essential part of good social etiquette. Be a keen observer. This also helps
you to understand better and to respond adequately to others.

Activity 9

1 Completed dialogue with suitable questions / statements;

A: How are you?

B: I’m fine, thank you. 39
 B: How about you?
A: I’m fine too. Thank you.
A: It’s good to see you after such a long time.
B: Yes. It’s been so long since we met up.
A: So did you have a comfortable journey?
B: Yes I did. Thanks.
A: When did you last visit this place?
B: I last visited this place six months ago.
A: Have you been following the cricket series?
B: Oh yes. We’ve had some great matches.
A: True. I’ve been enjoying the matches too.

Activity 10

i Be yourself
It is important to be yourself as you cannot put up pretense for long.
People will see through your act. Genuine people are respected as well as
trusted. When it comes to business people will want to associate only with
those who are trustworthy. So being genuine person shows that you are
reliable and other can build a good business relationship you.

ii Smile
A smiling face is welcome anytime than an ill-tempered expression.
When engaging in small talk people will feel comfortable in talking to
you when you approach them with a smile on your face. It helps breaking
the ice and setting the stage for a favorable business relationship.

iii Be a good listener

Listening carefully will help one understand others better and encourage
them to interact better. If one keeps on talking without giving others a
chance to speak, this may intimidate others and spoil any chances of
establishing a business relationship.

iv Do not force the conversation

If one is nervous or uncomfortable or isn’t prepared to initiate a
conversation, one should not attempt doing so. Otherwise one might make
a fool of oneself by saying something inappropriate.

Check your progress 5

1 i Vinay didn’t open the door.

ii You shouldn’t reply to her email.
iii She is not writing a novel these days.
iv He doesn’t work every Sunday.
v Subhash didn’t become a dentist.
vi Sudha has no time.
vii He doesn’t have a cold.
viii Mohan doesn’t have a chance of winning this match.

2 Illegal, irregular, imbalance, incomplete, unable, inequality, unequal,

unjust, injustice, dissimilar, disunity, non-violence
40