What are “small talk and big talk?” These words define almost anything that you say during the course of a day. For example, talking about the little details of life is considered small talk: the weather, what you ate, and what you might do for the weekend.
On the other hand, “big talk” is talking about things that really matter in the long run – either on earth or after we die: science, politics, religion, and big dreams.
Dr. Cynthia talks about her work in the medical field as an example of big talk. It could be discussing a patient’s condition with another doctor, ordering more tests to clarify the diagnosis, or talking about medical and scientific discoveries in the doctor’s dining room.
For much of Dr. C’s life, big talk was easier for her than small talk. Airing everyday little concerns seemed like a waste of time. That was a weakness.
But when Dr. C started focusing more on relationships, especially with internationals, she learned that in order to share the most important big things, she needed to improve on talking about small things.
Think about your own life: how do your conversations fall into small talk and big talk. Which do you need to improve on more in order to be a better communicator?
