The trick is to be skillful in the use of both types of talk in your social interactions. "The main difference I have noticed is that everyone will meet you for a coffee in Sydney and Melbourne even if they have no intention of doing business with you," says a British expat. I'm Malaysian and used to work in Malaysia. Some people choose to start with " Hows it going " - to which you aren't meant to give an answer. Just past Epping, but I normally go via the ring road. Angela Wylie. According to one study, 38% of Brits had small talks about the weather during their last 6 hours of the day. Of course, I wouldnt rather kill myself). Think of small talk as a tool that negotiates and defines a relationship. Some psychologists have suggested that gossip is one of the most important mechanisms for bonding social groups. Are You Missing Intimacy? I've found that it's like this across all industries here. Even Sydney Airport Arrivals has this plastered on a massive wall as soon as you get out of customs! I hope you enjoy learning through the resources here on my website I talk a lot about conversation skills and communication techniques. It keeps me busy. In this context, it is important to note that video meetings encourage stronger personal connection than phone calls. You didnt usually go into your next meeting without the social lubricant of small talk first. Small talk should be polite, surface level, and focused on neutral topics, like the weather, sports, and TV shows. It can even help you get access to more job opportunities because your coworkers will have a chance to get to know you. This can also set a positive tone for a meeting. It helps you learn a little more about whats going on in your office. Sure, working across a global business can have its challenges for leadership meetings but on the whole I've worked for US California-based companies for a while and it works well for me. Learning what is appropriate to say in certain situations will come with time, but you need to work at it and challenge yourself by stepping out of your social comfort zone. And always be careful not to overstep the level of intimacy inherent in a situation, especially when the small talk strays into the realm of personal topics such as health or physical appearance. What projects are keeping you busy these days? Aside from the unforeseen amount of coffee I'm drinking here at work, I find there's surprisingly little bureaucracy and regulations when it comes to doing business in Australia. You have dinners, go to traditional events, meet the family, it's like you're getting married. One of the reasons I wanted to move here [from the UK] was the embrace the work-life balance culture The other thing is the time zone. They reduce the uncertainty and sense of personal risk that any new behaviour initially carries, especially for those from under-represented groups. On days workers made more small talk than usual, they experienced more positive emotions and were less burned out. It's a little awkward, but over the years I've had many conversations with fellow expats about how Australians are prone to laziness, at least compared with other countries like Britain, Ireland, and the US. Humour can be good, if it comes easily for you. Here's how small talk in Australia often goes. Can you provide some tips for people who are also new to a workplace and relatively new to America on what kind of small talk they can engage in. There are generally less layers to the executive team, so you can get greater exposure earlier on to more senior personnel and can have a greater impact more quickly. As well as fostering trust, networks and connection, small talk also helps people transition from activity to activity throughout the working day. After a colleague volunteers information about their family, this is usually an indication that it is a safe topic and one they probably like talking about. If someone asks you this question, you can say, Im currently working on or Right now Im and then share more details. Its hard enough for any newcomer to the workplace, but when youre operating outside your first culture, it can be even more stressful. There was another incident where I finally told her I didnt like her when she asked why I didnt want to be chatty. We prefer chit chat to start a business meeting and we socialise after work a lot. If someone asks, How are you? its ill-mannered to rant about your bad day. You may want to sign up for my email list to get more insights: https://englishwithkim.com/stayintouch . Re-create casual collisions. Some organizations have found creative ways to orchestrate informal virtual interactions among employees. You're much more likely to text your boss when you're 10 minutes late from lunch elsewhere in the world than you would in good old 'Straya! Youll speak clearly and confidently so that people will definitely understand (and listen to) what you have to say. I usually work in accounting department and there everybody is quiet and concentrated. I have never before seen people form an orderly queue for a bus. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. And a well-oiled, open workplace where people are free to engage with each other means that people get more work done and are happier about it. Small Talk. The reality is that Australians work really hard so more of the heavy lifting is done by the individual. Charlie Wood, managing director for ANZ, Dropbox. Be sure to review the other related articles on small talk: https://englishwithkim.com/category/small-talk-in-english/ Take care! This may help you learn more about what they do. These cookies dont collect any personal information. In other words, socio-pragmatic insights and skills are needed to manage good social relationships in the hybrid workplace. Try these thoughtful questions to check-in during a crisis.). For a country with such a great climate and an outdoors lifestyle, it's a car culture. This was a side benefit of the face-to-face office. Its normal to avoid the topic. 1- A sense of humour is important in the Australian workplace- 2- A business letter should have a formal and concise introduction- 3- Australians like to communicate informally- 4- Socialising after work is not common in Australia- 5- Managers dislike suggestions from staff- You got something out of the conversation! Jokes at anyone's expense 7. So how can you prepare for ice-breakers when the best thing to do is to pick up on the thread? Candid to the core, Australians get straight to the point and I love them for it. (Supplied: Suvi Selenge) Life's wish. Try to use friendly, happy intonation so they feel like youre actually glad to see them. The guests were required to police their conversations by sounding the alarm and changing direction if they perceived that the conversation was drifting in the direction of small talk. And while it may be second nature to partake in these rituals for those of us who are none the wiser, some of these conventions can be surprising to foreigners when they begin working in Australia. Just because we might be working remotely doesnt mean that casual conversations are no longer important. It's refreshing because it means there's a much faster working environment and people generally communicate in a way that gets their point across. You agree to share your name and email address with Kim in order to leave a comment. These brief, casual conversations are a great way to get to know new people, but they can be even more important in the workplace. If you are the site owner (or you manage this site), please whitelist your IP or if you think this block is an error please open a support ticket and make sure to include the block details (displayed in the box below), so we can assist you in troubleshooting the issue. Consequently, you get to learn more across a wider portfolio, either horizontally or vertically. I have to say work is as equally social here as in London and NYC, but there's much more of a "work culture" in Australia. | Kit Young, head of photography at Vinomofo. I want to remind you to be careful when discussing work. You should also avoid talking about religion. And how many times a week do you begin with "I love this weather, what do you think?" HBR Learnings online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Air strikes and shelling have rocked Khartoum as Sudan enters a third week of fighting between rival military forces despite a . I have visited some remote Chinese cities only to find an Australian advising a business in a particular sector, with no Mandarin, but still readily accepted, contributing and having fun with the workforce. The Dreadful Physical Symptoms of Dementia, 2 Ways Empathy Determines the Type of Partner We Choose, To Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life, Seek These Goals, Why the Silent Treatment Is Really About Abuse and Control, The Culture of Childhood: Weve Almost Destroyed It, Should I Stay or Should I Go? We should all have techniques to break the ice, so everyone can feel relaxed and be themselves. People who manipulate nicely dont threaten. While you can ask, How are you? or How are you doing?, I suggest trying to get a little more specific. Talking about politics can be controversial, as people have very different beliefs. In other words, a script functions as a detailed guide outlining what behaviours are appropriate in a given situation. Although these might seem counterintuitive when youre under deadline pressure, our research suggests that they are restorative and reduce burnout. For example, we don't mind the use of profanity in the office. It's not that it's terrible for business, but you sometimes wonder if Australians truly realise how ferociously competitive it really is in the wider world. It sounds like youre looking for workplace training scripts, so I encourage you to search Google using those terms. Small talk haters are also quick to cite a study by psychologist Mathias Mehl and his colleagues, published in Psychological Science in 2010. How Blame and Shame Can Fuel Depression in Rape Victims, Getting More Hugs Is Linked to Fewer Symptoms of Depression, Interacting With Outgroup Members Reduces Prejudice, Practice Improves the Potential for Future Plasticity, How Financial Infidelity Can Affect Your Gray Divorce, a waste of time and as an impediment to a meaningful conversation, a study by psychologist Mathias Mehl and his colleagues, studies indicate that people are happier when they talk to others, Why We Are Suckers for Conspiracy Theories, Why "Snitching" Makes Us So Uncomfortable. What channels are you watching on YouTube? Small talk turns out to be a big deal! The first thing I'd say is that the cultural differences were clearly less apparent to me than they were to my colleagues from the US head office. Otherwise, you may have heard about your coworkers excellent work with a client or project, so this is your opportunity to find out more. There's also much less hierarchy in workplaces here, compared with Asia for example. It's part of Australia's DNA and I see it reflected in our own business agile, diverse, innovative with speed to market as a key point of difference here and internationally. Brief, informal "small talk" conversations are essential in many aspects of life, including the workplace. I was met with the "tall poppy syndrome" and a much more conservative business environment that I wasn't expecting. If you feel comfortable with your coworker, this question can help you get a valuable opinion from them. As a Brit, who has spent many years living in the US, workplaces to me were often places where people tried to avoid confrontation; skating around awkward conversations and hiding behind emails. Everyone is accepted and as long as you're willing to work you will be accepted and welcomed no matter where you come from. When the meeting begins after this small episode of warmth, inclusion and collegiality, then conversations are generally more productive and creative, than meetings which have a cold start. You could eat lunch together once a week, as an example. I'd also have to say that although the work ethic is equal, there's a much more relaxed and friendly vibe here in Australia. Once again, it shows youre forward thinking. Religion is a very personal belief for many people, and its considered to be part of your private life. Ice-breakers need to feel natural and unforced. You see this person every day, so you probably already know how theyre doing, without even asking the question. In Sydney they might say, the Roosters, for example.). Im happy to hear youre feeling more confident making small talk now! The workplace culture in Australia allows people to socialise during their working hours. If you have a challenging client, situation, or problem in the office, this may be your opportunity to get some insight from your coworker. I moved to Australia from the US in 2012. There is a sense of camaraderie and community and, in turn, these have been shown to support productivity. Over time, I learned how to subtly talk about my background and achievements but learnt that I needed to first add value and build a lot of trust along the way within my community.
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