The Benefits of Small Talk: How Dogs Can Be a Catalyst for Community Building

Sometimes, we might brush aside the small talk we engage in - while on a walk with our dog or at a coffee shop - as unnecessary, nothing important, or an insignificant part of the day. But, that just might not be the case.

SPONTANEITY

With review apps, social media and algorithms, it can sometimes feel like sponteneity is vanishing. Everything has an answer for us. Everything is a “like” or a “swipe”. Small talk can pop up out of nowhere and keep spontaneity (and the joy that comes with it) simmering.

COMMON GROUND

“What’s your dog’s name?” Through small interactions, you might learn you share the same interests with a neighbor, fellow customer, or community member in a digestible way. These interactions can strengthen our sense of belonging and happiness.

MUSCLE BUILDING

By keeping conversations approachable, small talk can help build the muscle to feel more comfortable meeting new people, attending new events with strangers, and getting out in community. Small talk allows us to build on our active listening skills, which can be important for our relationships at home, at work, or while simply ordering a cup of coffee.

A DEEP BREATH

Gillian Sandstrom, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Sussex has found that, among other things, small talk can increase your well-being, reduce anxiety, and make you feel more connected.*

DOG

You might just meet a dog from small talk. And, this might be the most important slide

CONCLUSION

So, embrace that small talk! That chat about how “we needed this,” or “I love that author,” or “my dog loves this street,” might just change the world for the better. Or, at the very least, your day!

*(The New York Times article: The Big Benefits of Small Talk by Jancee Dunn.)

Sources include NYT article “The Big Benefits of Small Talk by Jancee Dunn and Forbes article “Why Small Talk Is Anything But Small” by Jolia Korn