Hello!
I'm looking for ways to become better at fostering new connections with people, and I find that I am severely struggling with the small talk/getting to know you phases of relationships. Now I typically do ok in social relationships, but within my coworkers/academic peers, I am really struggling to have a positive impression. My default in situations where there is a 'hierarchy' is less speaking is better, but I find that leaves a cold/hard to approach perception which I feel like it is reducing my opprotunities. Does anyone have any recommendations oh how to deal with this? Literature to read? Thanks!
Ask people about themselves. Ask leading questions, not questions that can be answered with just "yes" or "no". Small talk: the weather is always popular. If there are a lot of potholes in the sidewalk or there was just an earthquake the next town over or a big movie just came out, like something newsworthy that they might want to talk about, that's not a bad idea although if you don't know the person well it might be advantageous to stay away from really controversial topics.