I know everyone is writing about the weather this week but I can't help but think of any amount of snow as just an easy "small talk" topic. Where I am in Colorado we had about a foot of snow over the weekend and it is still counting. Personally I love the excuse to cuddle up with a cup of tea. It is also a great way to break the silence in some of those awkward networking events. Filling the void of silence is not always a waste of time and small talk does have its benefits.

1. Find something in common
• When in an uncomfortable setting, friendly banter can ease the conversation into something a bit more relevant. You might start with snow as a topic and it might lead to you finding out that your neighbor has a condo on the ski slope that you could rent for cheap. Now you know you both like to ski and you automatically have something to talk about with them every subsequent time you meet inadvertently.
2. Learn something new
• Small talk doesn't have to be mindless banter. If you aren't someone who watches the news on a daily basis or not someone that follows Twitter trends regularly, you might actually learn that the Winter Storm Nika is the cause of all the moisture or to watch for the Goldieblox Super Bowl commercial sponsored by Intuit. It might not all be useless facts!
3. Pass the time
• Sometimes you simply are waiting out the clock. What about "time flies when you're having fun"? If you really are just waiting until the meeting starts, why not make twiddling your thumbs a bit more exciting and strike up a conversation with some else in the same situation.

Can I recommend that you stretch your small talk skills and initiate a conversation instead of checking your email needlessly on your smart phone? Whether the closest random stranger is sitting next to you on the bus, at the conference table, or in the elevator, try sparking up a conversation and it just might be worth your time. Also, if you struggle with small talk, Debra Fine is a great local speaker and author that can give you some tips!