Introduction
Communicating with other people can be a complicated undertaking, as in many cases, a person needs to remember the original purpose of the conversation and to use the appropriate techniques. People generally want to maintain a good relationship with an interlocutor while also achieving some kind of goal. There are various types of conversation, each of them “specializing” in a certain life situation. All of them should be thoroughly analyzed, as, despite sharing multiple traits concerning staying polite, they still utilize different methods.
YouTube Videos
- How not to make small talk. Web. (0:18)
- How to make small talk. Web. (0:48)
- How not to make an apology. Web. (5:02)
- How to make an apology. Web. (entire video)
- How to give and receive a compliment. Web. (0:10)
- How not to give and receive a compliment. Web. (entire video)
Instructions
Small talk is an extremely beneficial type of communication, especially when one needs to interact with a person that does not have much in common with him/her. Long pauses and silence can undermine any type of relationship (BBC Brit, 2016). Thus, it is of major importance to be ready to discuss certain neutral noncontroversial issues, which can allow both people to stay engaged in a conversation to have a good time. Although small talk is mainly centered around entertainment, one should remember that there is also a number of techniques that can make him/her feel needed and important. Asking questions is an excellent option, as it politely yet actively shifts attention to the interlocutor while still helping seem an active participant of the conversation. Moreover, one should be able to realize the major hobbies of an interlocutor in order to ensure that the conversation is actually engaging.
Making an apology can be extremely hard, as people are generally skeptical about the importance of accepting mistakes. It usually happens due to the fact that people are afraid to seem weak (Greater Good Science Center, 2020). Nevertheless, the ability to apologize actually correlates with self-esteem and even with financial standing. One should follow a number of steps to provide a truly great apology. It is important to acknowledge the offense, express remorse, provide an explanation, and make amends. It is also crucial to avoid any “if,” as it makes people feel that the apology is insincere (WatchMojo.com, 2018). An apology should be strongly connected to the initial problem.
Giving a compliment should be considered an important part of everyday conversation. A good compliment should be genuine and positive and encourage and please the interlocutor (The Daily Dropout, 2018). Moreover, one should be authentic and specific when choosing what to emphasize and praise. Using the right techniques can provide a great way to establish a good relationship or even alter an existing one. People can praise certain traits that they like in others and encourage each other to further enhance their personalities, which makes society kinder, happier, and more efficient. It turns out that receiving a compliment is not an easy task, as well. Sometimes people can feel embarrassed when they are being praised. In order to stop feeling this way, they tend to diminish the trait or achievement which the compliment centers (How Communication Works, 2018). Moreover, some people like dramatizing modesty by using such techniques, which can mislead interlocutor or even annoy him/her.
Conclusion
Although various behavior patterns should be applied under different circumstances, it is extremely important to remember that staying polite and sincere is the best strategy when it comes to interaction with family members, colleagues, and friends. One should master communication skills in order to be able to deliver the right message and the right emotion. It is important to use a conventional framework that always secures politeness while also being creative in order to impress and intrigue interlocutors.
References
BBC Brit. (2016). How to small talk – Socially awkward situations[Video]. YouTube.
Greater Good Science Center. (2020). How to apologize | The science of happiness [Video]. YouTube.
How Communication Works. (2018). How to accept compliments and why it’s so hard [Video]. YouTube.
The Daily Dropout. (2018). How to make any girls day [Video]. YouTube.
WatchMojo.com. (2018). Top 10 celebrity apology fails [Video]. YouTube.