Byte-sized Chit Chats

Pretty much all of us need to be good at small talk. The older you get, the more important you realize this is. Big talks almost always are a result of small talks. How successful you are can rely a lot on how well you can communicate with strangers. Strangers may be people you don’t know, but they are also people who are running their own uniquely amazing lives that you have no idea about. They could hold the key that unlocks even more opportunities in your world, or vice versa, that would not be possible unless you open up a little.

While I tend to be more naturally outgoing compared to many others, this doesn’t change the fact that I kind of hate small talk.

It’s never been easy, and I know I am the type who gets too distracted to be able to keep focus during a light conversation.

There are too many times that I catch myself interrupting other people, too. I can’t help it — the thoughts just pop into my head and have to be expressed RIGHT AWAY. It’s terrible, and I’m pretty embarrassed about it. Practice makes perfect, and I have a long way to go.

The best way to get a good stranger conversation going is, of course, to ask a lot of questions. Be careful with this, though — because that means you actually have to listen. You don’t want to be one of those jerks who asks the same question more than once in the same conversation.

To make good small talk, it’s also helpful to be up to date on current news. I told you about the TED app in our Dec. 10 issue, and it is an angel from heaven.

For sales people, PR execs, investors, real estate professionals, and just about anyone in business, there is a great app called Refresh. When I say “great,” I actually mean “creepy,” as it quickly will pull up all of the details available online about whomever you’re talking to. Using super-overshare sites like LinkedIn, Face-book, and even property information from Zillow, you now have references right there at your fingertips in case you draw a blank. It takes the conversation a few levels above “what was your name again?”

Dumbing it down for the club set, we have a great app for those who still need to discuss variants in a painfully loud environment: Yeller. The large text and bold colors are easily seen in the dark, from far away — or a few drinks in.

Note: Don’t be the person who is trying to have long, meaningful conversations during peak hours of clubbing. Just drink and dance. That’s the best thing to do late at night when it’s loud. It’s actually the best thing to do, period.

@SUPERCW

Christa Wittmier is “SUPERCW” on all social media. Find her on Snapchat, Soundcloud, Twitter, Vine and Instagram. By night, she is known as DJ SuperCW. By day, she is known as senior marketing director for Young’s Market Company of Hawaii. Her nightlife blog SuperCity runs every Wednesday on HonoluluPulse.com.