Small talk is a bit of a misnomer. While it's defined as polite conversation about unimportant matters, it's an important ...

Striking up a conversation—especially with a stranger—is a lot like adding kindling to a fire pit and hoping it ignites. Choose the wrong starter, and the flame will fizzle out. But when you get it ...

Have you ever met someone new and felt like the two of you just “clicked.” We “hit it off” is how you might describe the encounter, marveling at how the conversation just flowed even though the two of ...

You might be waiting for a bus or waiting for a coffee. Maybe you've just bumped into a neighbor, or an old colleague you're struggling to find conversational common ground with. But no matter ...

An evening out on the town with my closest friends — I love the promise of a night out. Maybe I’ll meet someone or learn something that could alter the trajectory of my life. And what a promise that ...

To learn more about our editorial approach, explore The Direct Message methodology. I’ll admit it: for years, I was terrible at small talk. As the quieter brother growing up, I’d watch people ...

ATLANTA — You're standing in line at the supermarket or drugstore when a stranger speaks up. "Hello, how are you?" the stranger greets you. "Good, and you?" might be your response. Your conversation ...

While small talk sometimes gets a bad rap, people who genuinely enjoy it know it serves a much deeper purpose than just filling awkward silences. Whether it’s chatting with a stranger at the coffee ...