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Appreciation post: I used to think networking events were just awkward small talk until one in Chicago last month changed my mind
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jordan5111mo ago
Awkward small talk" is my default setting at those things.
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wood.jana1mo ago
That "awkward small talk" feeling jordan511 mentioned is everywhere now, not just at events. It's like we've all forgotten how to just talk to people without a screen in between. I get the same vibe waiting in line for coffee or at the school pickup. The Chicago event working out is the exception, not the rule. Most of the time it's just forced chats about the weather while everyone checks their phone.
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morgan_stone331mo ago
That line about forced chats about the weather hits hard. What do you think makes the difference between that and a real conversation at these things? Is it just luck, or is there a trick to steering past the weather talk into something that doesn't feel like a waste of time? I'm trying to figure out if I'm the problem or if most events are just set up for failure.
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green.laura28d ago
Totally get what you mean about the weather talk! I used to dread that exact thing. The Chicago event was different because I stopped asking "what do you do" right away. Instead, I asked a guy about the art on the venue walls, which led to a real talk about local artists. It felt like a normal chat, not a business pitch. It made me see what @wood.jana said about screens getting in the way, because nobody pulled out their phone. Finding one shared interest first just breaks the ice better.
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