We’ve all heard the phrase don’t sweat the small stuff, but I’ve taken some time lately to do some reading and have enjoyed a book that contradicts that very notion.
In the book, ” The Power of Small” Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval provide a number of ‘ah-ha’ moments for me.
One of their best thought provokers is in the chapter Small Talk. They quote an insightful Studs Terk
el the legendary radio host from Chicago: “We are more and more into communications and less and less into communication” He makes the point that we’re losing our small talk-ability, an important human ingredient in getting to know, and eventually trust others. These are important elements in accomplishing cooperative common goals.
Electronic media is convenient and is clearly an effective time saver, but are we paying for interpersonal productivity with the growth of social phobia which now affects 13% of the population.
So maybe ‘moderation in everything’ still plays a part; try taking a little of Kaplan and Koval’s advice. Make a point at least once a week, to walk down the hall and stick your head into a co-worker’s office and talk to them rather than e-mailing, tweeting, or facebooking them. A voice inflection, facial expression, a smile and small talk provide the social lubricant that can get things started and can pay off in surprising ways.
Greg Jodzio is an Encore Entrepreneur. He is retired from his first career as a sales executive and is now spending his time growing his newest venture, Red’s Hot, LLC and providing business training and assistance to entrepreneurs through the Southwest Initiative Foundation’s Microloan Program.
photo credit: Jeffrey Beall
