How to Get Good at Small Talk, and Even Enjoy It
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters share it as a short, practical resource for people who struggle with small talk.
What it is
A Harvard Business Review video with tactics for getting better at small talk and enjoying it, such as setting goals, allowing pauses, and starting and ending conversations.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2024 to 2026.
What Hacker News said
Recommends Agentus · 2024-12 · on “How to grow professional relationships”
small talk isnt pointless if done with an aim. this video help explains that [LINK] . seduction as applied to conversation. also rather mundane conversation can be fun if done in the right manner. this video talks more on the right manner: [this video]
Recommends latexr · 2026-03 · on “Ask HN: How to approach new people in 2026?”
Right now on the front page: [LINK] Also interesting and somewhat related: [LINK] If you struggle with small talk: [this video] But to give a piece of advice not from a comment, is there any interest you have which other people may share and gather for? If you like games, for example, a local game shop is a good place to meet others. There’s usually always someone there, they tend to be welcoming to newcomers, and having something to do (play a game) can make you forget some of the awkwardness.
Recommends latexr · 2026-05 · on “Am I a Bad Friend?”
> There is only a faint aftertaste of missing out, which sticks to me like tar. I can’t wash it off. Sure you can. There are various paths to it, some outlined in sibling comments, and here’s another one: Pick up the phone and call or text some of those people you wish you had kept in contact with. Don’t have their contacts anymore? Ask someone who might or find them on social media. What do you say to them? “Hey, I was recently thinking of <that time you did something together> and felt like reaching out. How have you been doing?”. Maybe beforehand “collect” some relevant events which have happened to your life since you last met, so you have something at the ready to keep the conversation
Cites jodrellblank · 2026-05 · on “Am I a Bad Friend?”
Literally any way. If you're nearly a professional athlete then "how do I improve?" has very few answers that could help, and many ways that won't, but if you're a couch potato then anything is better than nothing. Any movement or club, from walking to bodyweight exercise, community hall dance group, exercise bike, treadmill, gym club spin class, climbing gym, Starting Strength, Couch to 5K running podcasts, Pilates, Yoga, Martial Arts, frisbee, volunteering to walk dogs - anything at all is an improvement. Any book, blog, video, article, about developing social skills will have some ideas and approaches. Asking anyone - family member, counsellor, therapist, doctor, coworker, stranger in the