When you can't think of what to say, a short list of safe topics and good questions gets you moving.
Direct answer
Safe small talk topics include work, hobbies, food, travel, weekend plans, local events, books and films. Use open questions that need more than yes or no, and follow what the other person says. Avoid politics, religion, money, health, relationships and gossip until you know someone well.
Topics that work
| Topic | Starter question |
|---|---|
| Work | "What are you working on at the moment?" |
| Weekend | "Anything fun planned this weekend?" |
| Food | "Have you tried anywhere good for lunch lately?" |
| Travel | "Have you been anywhere interesting recently?" |
| Hobbies | "What do you like to do outside work?" |
| Media | "Seen or read anything good lately?" |
| Local | "Do you live nearby? Any places you'd recommend?" |
| Event | "How did you hear about this?" |
Small talk at work
- "How's your week going?"
- "What's the most interesting thing you're working on?"
- "Did you catch the update from this morning?"
- "Got any plans for the break?"
Topics to avoid at first
- Politics and religion
- Money, salaries, prices
- Health or appearance
- Personal relationships
- Gossip and complaints
Keep it going
- Ask a follow-up about what they said.
- Share a little, then ask back.
- Link to what you have in common.
- Use "tell me more".
When it dries up
Move to a new topic, or end warmly. See how to make small talk.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's The Art of Small Talk course gives you a toolkit for starting and sustaining conversations at work and events. It is free to start.
The bottom line
Curiosity beats clever lines.
