Small talk, big victory—your guide to managing social anxiety and making conversation
Leave your anxious feelings at the door in any social situation—and see a world of possibilities open up for you. Stress-Free Small Talk is filled with strategies, advice, conversation-starters, practical activities, and mindfulness-based exercises for people who want to manage their social anxiety and engage in small talk with anyone.
Take control of any casual interaction with tips for introducing yourself, universal topics of discussion, active listening, asking questions, talking with someone who disagrees with you, how to politely exit a conversation, and much more.
Stress-Free Small Talk includes:
Embrace your fears—Learn to understand your nervous feelings, set appropriate expectations, and prepare for social encounters—so you can make small talk comfortably.
Real-life scenarios—Get advice for day-to-day social situations, like attending a party full of strangers, going on a blind date, or getting seated next to a chatty passenger on an airplane.
Great first impressions—Discover tips and tools for making strong first impressions, including maintaining good posture, making regular and natural eye contact, and beyond.
Look who's talking now! If you've been searching for a helpful how-to guide to reducing anxiety and making small talk so that you can navigate social situations with ease, this book has you covered.
About the Author
RICHARD S. GALLAGHER, LMFT, is a psychotherapist based in upstate New York who specializes in treating anxiety disorders. A former customer service executive and public speaker, he is the author of numerous communications skills books including What to Say to a Porcupine, The Customer Service Survival Kit, and Stress-Free Small Talk.
Praise For…
“If you are shy, introverted, suffer from anxiety, or just kind of keep to yourself, Stress-Free Small Talk is your book! While it adeptly covers how to make small talk, it also provides information for dealing with a slew of public and group situations and helps you to manage any anxiety (whether disorder related or just plain nervousness). Rich Gallagher is a clinical expert and provides everything from backgrounds to scenarios for you to practice!”—Carol Roth, creator of the Future File legacy planning system and New York Times bestselling author of The Entrepreneur Equation
“Everyone experiences anxiety about social conversations—even many very successful people. This book takes you step by step through how to handle these situations comfortably. Highly recommended!”—Patricia Rossi, author of Everyday Etiquette: How to Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations and NBC Daytime correspondent
“If you can’t imagine yourself feeling comfortable and confident while socializing, you need this book. It will forever change the way you think and feel about small-talk. Rich Gallagher is a master communicator who gently guides you through your most dreaded face-to-face moments, offering solutions that will not only give you more peace and ease with small-talk but will also get you enjoying and benefiting from it.”—Marilyn Suttle, co-author of the #1 customer service bestseller Who's Your Gladys?
